Influence of age on outcomes of Bobath-based neurorehabilitation of adults – pilot study

IN T R O D U C T IO N: Functional activity in post-stroke survivors is often impaired and has a significant negative impact on the patient, his/her family, community and society. M A T E R IA L A ND M E T H OD S: Pilot study – a two-group, before-and-after preliminary study was carried out to investigate the feasibility of conducting a larger randomized controlled trial investigation of the efficacy of Bobath-based poststroke neurorehabilitation. Patients were admitted to the neurological rehabilitation unit after ischemic stroke. Both groups (group I aged 40–55 years and group II aged 67–82 years received ten half-an-hour physiotherapy sessions over a two-week period. Measurements of the the Barthel Index, gait velocity, cadence and stride length were conducted twice: on admission, and after the last session of rehabilitation. R E S U L TS A N D D IS C U S S I O N: Statistically significant and favourable changes in the selected activities of daily living, gait velocity and stride length were observed in both age groups. C O N C L U S IO N S: This pilot study indicates a short-term benefit for using interventions based on the Bobath Concept. The findings presented suggest that Bobath-based rehabilitation may be considered an effective form of post-stroke rehabilitation in various age groups.