Effect of task-oriented therapy on upper limb motor functions in hemiplegic patients

Abstract

Background: Stroke remains one of the foremost global health problems. It is a principal reason of disability in adullts and ranks among the leading causes of death internationally. Upper limb motor function is critically impaired in a large proportion of stroke survivors, leading to substantial limitations in independence in daily activities. Aims and Objectives: Compare and evaluation of the effectiveness of task-oriented therapy and mirror therapy on upper limb motor function in stroke patients. Methodology: The 30 hemiplegic patients with upper extremity functional impairment aged between 45 – 65 years were included in study as per inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into two groups, namely group A and group B. Both groups were treated with conventional physiotherapy along with group A treated with task oriented therapy and group B with mirror therapy for 60 minutes per session, 6 days in a week for12 weeks. Motor assessment scale – upper limb (MAS - UL) was uses as outcome measures. The data was obtained from both the groups at beginning of the study as pre-test and at the end of twelve weeks as post-test. Mean, standard deviation, paired and unpaired “t” test was used for data analysis. Result: The mean improvement in upper limb motor functions scores of motor assessment scale – upper limb was 10.33 in group A and 6.66 in group B. Thus, it was resulted that group A treated with task oriented therapy statistically significant effect over group B treated with mirror therapy in upper limb motor functions of hemiplegic patients. Conclusion: It was concluded that task oriented therapy had a superior effect over mirror therapy in upper limb motor functions of hemiplegic patients.