Role of dalak (massage) and riyazat (exercise) in the rehabilitation of patients with post stroke hemiplegia

Hemiplegia is complete or nearly complete paralysis on one side of the body. Hemiplegia constitutes the main somatoneurological disorder in about 90% of patients with stroke. Its incidence increases markedly with advancing age. The objective of the study was to enable individual patients to achieve their full potential and to maximize the benefits from dalak (massage), riyazat (exercise) and Unani medicines, in order to attain the highest possible degree of physical and psychological performance. Randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in National institute of unani medicine hospital. Sixty patients 20 in each group were completed the study. Moderate massage was performed on patients in group A with Roghane Qust (A Unani pharmacopoeal preparation), group B patients were rehabilitated with exercise and Group-C patients were treated with conventional unani medicine using munzij (concoction) and mushil (purgation) therapy followed by muqawwi aasab (nerve tonic). Group-A showed 10.55, group B 9.11, group C 3.25 mean functional gain in FuglMeyer upper limb score. Group A showed 16.25, Group-B 20.45, group C 10.60 means functional gain in FIM score. Massage has major effect in improvement of upper limb score. Exercise has significant effect in ambulatory profile and rehabilitation of gait. As unani drugs also showed improvement, the combination of Massage Exercise and conventional Unani drug treatment promises to play an important role in rehabilitation of Hemiplegia patients.