Effects of Upper Extremity Physiotherapy and Home Exercises on Functional Outcomes in Individuals With Stroke

Participants in this group receive supervised upper extremity physiotherapy twice a week for 45 minutes over 10 weeks, in addition to a home exercise program. The physiotherapy program includes stretching, passive and active-assisted range-of-motion exercises, arm ergometer training, progressive resistance exercises using Theraband and dumbbells, coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. The home exercise program is performed five days per week, twice daily for 30 minutes per session.

Participants in the intervention group receive a 10-week rehabilitation program consisting of supervised upper extremity physiotherapy twice weekly for 45 minutes per session and a structured home exercise program on three non-treatment days per week. The home exercise program is identical in content to that of the control group and includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination training, and fine motor activities. Home exercises are performed twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. Supervised physiotherapy includes stretching, passive, active-assisted and active range-of-motion exercises, wand exercises, arm ergometer training, progressive strengthening using Theraband and 0.5 kg dumbbells, coordination exercises, and fine motor activities.

Participants in the control group perform a structured home exercise program five days per week for 10 weeks. The program includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. The exercises are performed twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. The content of the home exercise program is the same as that prescribed to the intervention group. No supervised physiotherapy sessions are provided to the control group.

physiotherapy sessions. The program includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. Exercises are performed five days per week, twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise.

Participants in the control group perform a structured home exercise program five days per week for 10 weeks. The program includes upper extremity range-of-motion exercises, stretching, wall exercises, light resistance exercises using towels, Theraband and water bottles, hand-eye coordination exercises, and fine motor activities. The exercises are performed twice daily for 30 minutes per session, with 10 repetitions of each exercise. The content of the home exercise program is the same as that prescribed to the intervention group. No supervised physiotherapy sessions are provided to the control group.

The Barthel Index is used to assess independence in activities of daily living. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater functional independence. Changes in Barthel Index scores from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention are compared between the intervention and control groups.

The SF-36 is used to assess health-related quality of life across eight domains. Scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. Changes in scores from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention are compared between the two groups.

Upper extremity range of motion is assessed using a goniometer. Measurements include shoulder flexion, extension and abduction; elbow flexion and extension; and wrist flexion and extension. Range of motion is recorded in degrees (°), with higher values indicating greater joint mobility. Changes from baseline to Week 10 are compared between the two groups.

Pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. Changes in VAS scores from baseline to the end of the 10-week intervention are compared between the intervention and control groups.

Upper extremity sensory function is assessed using superficial, deep, and cortical sensory tests, including temperature discrimination, sharp-dull discrimination, joint position sense (proprioception), and stereognosis. Changes in sensory function from baseline to Week 10 are evaluated in both groups.