Published Paper Details:

Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in hemiplegia, which severely impacts upper limb function and the ability to perform daily activities. Despite advancements in stroke rehabilitation, many patients do not achieve full recovery of arm function. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of manual therapy in improving upper limb motor function in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to assess whether manual therapy, when combined with standard rehabilitation care, leads to greater improvements in upper limb motor function, muscle spasticity, and functional independence compared to standard rehabilitation care alone. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 stroke patients with hemiplegia. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (manual therapy + standard rehabilitation care) or the control group (standard rehabilitation care only). Both groups were treated over an eight-week period. Outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and at follow-up intervals. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements across all outcome measures. However, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements compared to the control group. Post-treatment, the manual therapy group exhibited higher mean scores in the FMA-UE (67.10 vs. 57.13), ARAT (59.07 vs. 50.23), FIM (72.07 vs. 57.90), and reduced MAS scores indicating lower spasticity (63.00 vs. 55.47), all with P<0.001. Conclusion: The findings suggest that manual therapy, in conjunction with standard rehabilitation care, significantly enhances upper limb motor function, reduces muscle spasticity, and improves functional independence in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Integrating manual therapy into rehabilitation programs can optimize recovery outcomes for this patient population.