BACKGROUND: Very early mobilisation is believed to reduce disability and minimize the adverse events of the stroke victim. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of very early mobilisation in addition to the standard care on the level of disability and the number of potential adverse events in the first 3 months post stroke. DESIGN: Single blind, Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University teaching hospital. METHODS: The intervention group (n = 24) received early and frequent out of bed activities such as sitting, standing, walking. The mobilisation activities were initiated within 24 hours of the stroke onset for 5 to 30 minutes for at least twice a day, for seven days. OUTCOME MEASURES: The level of disability was measured with modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index and the number of potential adverse events. RESULTS: Fifty-four subjects (mean age 63.30 years, SD 10.58) were randomized equally into two groups. The most common adverse events were depression, shoulder pain, pneumonia, UTI, constipation, and falls among the subjects. The intervention group reported comparatively less number of (59/126) adverse events than the Standard care (67/126). There were no statistical significant differences in the level of disability as well as potential adverse events at the 3 months follow-up (p < 0.005) among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Very early mobilisation along with the Standard care may be beneficial in improving the level of disability and reduce the number of adverse events in the first 3 months post stroke.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PDF locator
• publisher