Comparison Of Two Physiotherapy Approaches InAcute Stroke Rehabilitation: Motor RelearningProgram Versus Bobath Approach.

More nails in the coffin of Bobath/NDT.
http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:jor&volume=1&issue=1&article=012
Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of two rehabilitative approaches to restore function in subjects with acute middle cerebral artery stroke.

Study design

Nonblinded, randomized clinical intervention trial

Method
22 subjects with first unilateral stroke (middle cerebral artery territory involvement) participated in the study. Group 1 (12 subjects) and group 2 (10 subjects) received Motor Relearning Program (MRP) and Bobath approach respectively for a period of six weeks.

Outcome measures
Fugl Meyer (FM), Motor assessment scale (MAS), Barthel index (BI), Functional independence measure (FIM), Functional ambulation category (FAC) and Dynamic gait index (DGI).

Results
The magnitude of change on all our primary outcome measures except FM, was greater in the MRP group as compared to Bobath group (p<0.05) & inclination of higher trend of change starting at 2weeks seen in MRP. Conclusion This study indicates that the physiotherapy treatment using MRP shows early & better improvement in functional mobility and activities of daily living than Bobath approach. Subject in MRP were able to walk early.