Relationship between functionality and motor capacity of acute stroke patients

Abstract

Introduction. Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in Brazil and it is importance that functional assessment and characterization of this patient in the acute phase is to assess the level of limitations and dependence of this patient. Objective. To analyze the relationship between functional independence and motor capacity of post-stroke hemiparetic patients in the acute phase. Method. Correlational Descriptive Study involving 24 hemiparetic patients in the first ten days of hospital admission. They were evaluated by the following instruments: Hand Movement Scale (HMS), Hand Grip Force Measurement (HGF) by Dynamometry, Trunk Control Test (TCT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Gait Speed Test (GST), Barthel Index (BI) and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQLS). For the Statistical analysis we used the Spearman Correlation Test with a significance level of 1% (p<0.01) and a descriptive analysis. Results. Functional independence demonstrated to be strongly correlated with trunk control, functional mobility, gait, and handgrip strength on the affected side. Conclusions. It is suggested that in the acute phase after a stroke, functional mobility, trunk control, gait speed and handgrip strength on the paretic side directly affect the functional independence of these individuals.