Hiroyuki Miyasaka, OTR, PhD, Hitoshi Ohnishi, OTR, BA, Chikage Hieda, OTR, BA, Kenji Kawakami, RPT, MS, Genichi Tanino, RPT, MS, Yuko Okuyama, RPT, Yutaka Tomita, RE, PhD, Shigeru Sonoda, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 5: 117-124, 2014
Objective: We examined how differences in training
method affected the improvement of paralysis.
Methods: One hundred and thirty-one patients with
stroke were admitted to Nanakuri Sanatorium, Fujita
Health University. We divided the patients randomly
into five groups, mirror therapy (MT), integrated
volitional control electrical stimulation (IVES),
therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES), repetitive
facilitative exercises (RFEs), and conventional
training (control group). Each group performed an
assigned exercise for 20 minutes. Decision tree analysis
was performed to identify the effectiveness of
rehabilitation training for improving motor function.
The predicted variables were the FMA upper extremity
items at 4 weeks. The explanatory variables were age,
days after stroke onset, treatment technique, and
evaluation test results.
Results: When patients had scores of FMA-finger < 3
and FMA-shoulder < 3, MT, TES, and RFEs were
chosen as favorable determinants. If FMA-finger >-
and FMA-wrist < 8, MT, IVES, TES, and RFEs were
chosen as favorable determinants.
Conclusion: Decision tree analysis appears to be a
valid mean for deciding the best rehabilitation method
for sub-acute stroke patients.
Key words: stroke, upper limb hemiparesis training, decision tree analysis