The Effect of Bobath Concept&conventional Therapy on the Functional Re-education in Patients with Hemiplegia Following Mca Stroke

Research question

Is there any Evidence based treatment technique for the functional independence of stroke patients?

Objective

To find out the efficacy of the Bobath concept used for the functional re-education of the patient with Hemiplegia following stroke over the conventional therapies (traditionally used combined techniques).

Study design

An experimental comparative study. Setting Stroke unit NIMHANS Bangalore.

Participants

• This study consist of 25 post stroke patients.

• Duration of Post-stroke minimum of 1 week to 10 days.

• Ages of the patients ranged between 30 to 60 years

• Side of lesion - both the Right and Left. This study was conducted only after evaluating patients completely to suit them into the study group.

Methods

Control group - A

12 patients were treated by using the conventional approach for the period of one month from the date of inclusion to the study.

Experimental group - B

Remaining 13 patients were treated using the Bobath concept for the same period of one month.

Post test

Both control and Experimental group were assessed by the Barthal Index after one month of continuous treatment.

Results

The result of this study showed that a speed of functional recovery is more in the patients belonging to Bobath group as compared to conventional group. Thus this study conclusively emphasis that Bobath concept is more valid for the faster recovery of functional activities in the patients following stroke.

Conclusion

1 The Bobath concept and conventional therapeutic approaches are highly controversial in the aspects of principles and techniques and also their effects and uses. A comparative study to judge the effectiveness of both the techniques upon the functional re-education of the stroke patients was conducted with 25 patients. Who were belonged to MCA type of age between 30 to 60 years and evaluated their functional outcome with Barthal Index. This 25 patients irrespective of age and sex were selected for the study by using random sampling lottery method, grouped into two named as controlled group (A) and experimental group (B). Group A underwent conventional therapy and group B Bobath approach. The individual functional outcome were measured, analyzed and interpreted using both paired and unpaired -t- test.

The result of paired -t- test at 5% level of significance showed that a speed of functional recovery is more in the patients belonging to Bobath group. Where as the result of unpaired -t- test at the same 5% level of significance showed that there is no significant statistical difference in the effects produced by both the groups upon their functional activities. Thus study conclusively emphasis that Bobath concept is more valid for the faster recovery of functional activities in the patients following stroke than conventional therapy. In order to stabalise this study, a study with large sample and longer duration is suggested and also being recommended.