COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVENESS OF TASK ORIENTED PHYSICAL THERAPY APPROACH WITH CONVENTIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR UPPER LIMB FUNCTION IN STROKE PATIENTS

Background: After stroke, the capacity and excellence of motor activities of a paretic upper limb has proved to increase by Motor Relearning Programme (MRP). The technique focuses on functional activities which work on neuroplasticity. The study’s aim was to examine the effects of MRP versus conventional therapy (CT) in improving upper limb (UL) functions in stroke survivor.  Methodology: Seventy subjects with stroke were selected on the bases of inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. Participants were randomly allocated to groups i.e. the treatment group and the control group. Participants in the conventional group were provided rehabilitation for 2 hours with general physiotherapy exercises. The MRP group subjects were provided with task oriented training (MRP). To quantify the functional level of the paretic upper limb, sub-scales of the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) were administered for upper limb function; post treatment scores after 4 weeks compared with baseline assessment.  Results: The results showed that the subjects in experimental group were significantly enhanced with upper arm function and hand activities i.e. P<0.001 than the subjects in control group, which stresses that MRP could improve the UL motor activities after stroke in sub-acute subjects.  Conclusion: The treatment group was meaningfully better-quality than the conventional group, which put emphasis on that MRP could improve the upper limb motor activities after stroke subjects as compare to CT. Keywords: Conventional Physiotherapy, Motor assessment scale, Motor relearning program, Stroke, Upper limb motor function.