OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of alternating hot-cold water immersion (AHCWI) in patients with acute stroke. DESIGN: A single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of a medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Early stroke survivors (n = 24) with moderate-to-severe arm paresis. INTERVENTIONS: In addition to conventional rehabilitation, eligible patients were randomly assigned to an AHCWI group (n = 12, for AHCWI) or a control group (n = 12, for upper limb (UL) cycling exercises) 5 times per week for 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Fugl-Meyer Assessment motor-UL (FMA-UL) score, Motricity Index-UL (MI-UL) score, modified Motor Assessment Scale (MMAS; including its UL sections, MMAS-UL) score, Berg Balance Scale score, Barthel Index (BI), and modified Ashworth Scale score were assessed by the same uninvolved physical therapist at baseline and after 4 and 6 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the AHCWI group performed better, with significant group effects (p < 0.05), and exhibited significant improvements in FMA-UL, MI-UL, and MMAS-UL scores at 4 and 6 weeks (p < 0.05). Although the remaining outcomes were not significantly different, they favored the AHCWI group. Notably, a significant difference was observed in the BI at 4 weeks (p = 0.032). Significant changes in the muscle tone or adverse effects were not observed in either group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: AHCWI with stroke rehabilitation is feasible and may facilitate motor function recovery of the paretic UL after a stroke.

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

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher