Functional and Clinical Outcomes of a Conventional Rehabilitation Program in Hemiplegic Patients Across Different Age Groups

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 147 - 161, 31.12.2025

Hazal Berfin Yılmaz , Esra Beceni

https://doi.org/10.51819/jaltc.2025.1772418

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of a conventional rehabilitation program on functional status and clinical outcomes in hemiplegic patients from different age groups. This retrospective study analyzed outpatient records of stroke patients treated at a private secondary-level healthcare facility in Türkiye between 2020 and 2024. Collected data included demographics, the Barthel Index, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Brunnstrom stages, range of motion (ROM), and manual muscle test scores. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0, and a p-value < .05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 97 patients were included and divided into two age groups. Group 1 had a mean age of 55.31 ± 5.89 years, and Group 2 had a mean age of 71.20 ± 5.11 years. Gender distribution was equal in Group 1, while males predominated in Group 2. Group 1 showed significantly greater improvements in Barthel Index scores (p = .002), selected ROM measurements (p = .031), and muscle strength measures. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in Brunnstrom stages or MAS scores, although both groups demonstrated clinical improvements. Conventional physiotherapy enhanced functional independence in both age groups, with more marked improvements in younger patients. These findings highlight age as a potentially influential factor in rehabilitation outcomes.

Keywords

Stroke , Hemiplegia , Rehabilitation , Functionality , Age Factors

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