Early PNF exercises functional outcome and quality in patients with stroke of urban and rural area in Uttar Pradesh: a prospective community based study

Background: Early rehabilitation plays a very important role in stroke outcome. In India people from rural areas get primary treatment from district hospitals, where the rehabilitation facilities are not available, and then referred to the tertiary care hospital (after 2-3weeks) hence the rehabilitation process is delayed. It may delay the improvement in functional outcome and quality of life. These factors should be evaluated. To evaluate effects of PNF intervention in urban and rural population in Uttar Pradesh.Methods: Total 90 patients were recruited in this study and divided into rural (coming from rural areas of Uttar Pradesh) and urban (coming from urban areas) groups. Patients were given rehabilitation for 4weeks and improvement in functional activities was assessed by Barthel's-Index (BI), Quality of Life was assessed by Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQOL) and sensory motor improvement was assessed by Fugl- Meyer Assessment before and after the intervention. Patients were again assessed at 6months.Results: 41 patients in experimental and 49 patients in control group completed the 6 months follow up and were available for analysis. On analysis urban group showed better (<0.05) improvement in functional activities, sensory motor improvement (FMA) and quality of life (SSQOL) as well. People who directly admitted to our multispecialty and tertiary care hospital and received early rehabilitation showed better improvement than the patients who received late rehabilitation.Conclusions: Early rehabilitation leads to early improvement in functional activities. PNF exercises are very effective in improving motor function and should be given from the first day after stroke.