Cambier DC, De Corte E, Danneels LA, Witvrouw EE.
Treating sensory impairments in the post-stroke upper limb with intermittent
pneumatic compression. Results of a preliminary trial.
Clin Rehabil 2003 Feb;17(1):14-20     weiter zur Übersetzten Vollversion

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences &
Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Belgium. dirk.cambier@rug.ac.be

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC)
in treating sensory impairments in the hemiplegic upper limb in stroke patients.
DESIGN: Twenty-three stroke patients were enrolled in a randomized, controlled
preliminary trial that compared the application of intermittent pneumatic
compression with a passive treatment strategy. SETTING: Four Belgian day centres
for treatment of neurological disabilities. Four acute and rehabilitation care
wards specialized in neurological treatment. SUBJECTS: Twenty-three stroke
patients. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group (n = 11) received standard
physiotherapy combined with intermittent pneumatic compression treatment (10
cycles of 3 minutes with a peak of 40 mmHg) for their hemiplegic upper limb. The
control group (n = 12) received supplementary to their conventional physiotherapy
a placebo treatment, namely sham short-wave therapy on the hemiplegic shoulder
for 30 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensory impairments were clinically
assessed at three occasions over a period of four weeks using the Nottingham
Sensory Assessment scale. RESULTS: Both groups improved in somatosensation over
time, but the experimental group improved more than the control group (p= 0.036)
or 81.1% improvement versus 30.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of intermittent pneumatic
compression in the rehabilitation of stroke patients may be of clinical
importance for the restoration of sensory function.