Background and objectives: Age might be a determinant that limits functional recovery in patients with stroke. Here, we investigated the effect of age on functional recovery within 30 months after stroke onset. Materials and Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study enrolled 111 patients with first-ever stroke. Functional recovery was assessed at 2 weeks and at 1, 6, and 30 months after stroke onset using the modified Barthel Index (MBI), modified Rankin Score (mRS), functional ambulation category (FAC), muscle strength, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). A generalized estimating equation analysis was performed. Results: With the MBI, function improved until 6 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years and until 1 month after stroke onset in patients ≥70 years. At 30 months after stroke, there was no significant change of MBI in patients aged <70 years, whereas there was a significant decline in older patients. With the mRS and FAC, function improved until 30 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years and until 1 month after stroke onset in older patients. Motor deficit, assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC), improved significantly until 6 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years. There was a significant improvement in cognition (assessed using the MMSE) until 6 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years and until 1 month after stroke onset in older patients. Conclusions: Long-term functional recovery occurred for up to 30 months after stroke. Patients aged ≥70 years showed functional decline between 6 and 30 months after onset. These findings could be useful when measuring functional recovery after stroke.

Purpose: Although several types of occupational therapy for motor recovery of the upper limb in patients with chronic stroke have been investigated, most treatments are performed in a hospital or clinic setting. We investigated the effect of graded motor imagery (GMI) training, as a home exercise program, on upper limb motor recovery and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with stroke. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited 42 subjects with chronic stroke. The intervention group received instruction regarding the GMI program and performed it at home over 8 weeks (30 minutes a day). The primary outcome measure was the change in motor function between baseline and 8 weeks, assessed the Manual Function Test (MFT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). The secondary outcome measure was the change in ADL, assessed with the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results: Of the 42 subjects, 37 completed the 8-week program (17 in the GMI group and 20 controls). All subjects showed significant improvements in the MFT, FMA, and MBI over time (P < .05). However, the improvements in the total scores for the MFT, FMA, and MBI did not differ between the GMI and control groups. The MFT arm motion score for the GMI group was significantly better than that of the controls (P < .05). Conclusions: The GMI program may be useful for improving upper extremity function as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for patients with chronic stroke.

The study was designed to identify factors influencing the short term effect of intensive therapy on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy or developmental delay. Retrospectively, total Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) scores measured during the first and last weeks of intensive therapy were analyzed (n = 103). Good and poor responder groups were defined as those in the top and bottom 25% in terms of score difference, respectively. The GMFM-88 score increased to 4.67 ± 3.93 after 8 weeks of intensive therapy (P < 0.001). Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level (I–II vs. IV–V; odds ratio [OR] = 7.763, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.177–27.682, P = 0.002) was a significant factor in a good response to therapy. Age (≥ 36 months; OR = 2.737, 95% CI = 1.003–7.471, P = 0.049) and GMFCS level (I–II vs. IV–V; OR = 0.189, 95% CI = 0.057–0.630, P = 0.007; and III vs. IV–V; OR = 0.095, 95% CI = 0.011–0.785, P = 0.029) were significantly associated with a poor response. GMFCS level is the most important prognostic factor for the effect of intensive therapy on gross motor function. In addition, age ≥ 36 months, is associated with a poor outcome.

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Trigger finger, or digital stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common hand problem. A widely accepted treatment is steroid injection into the flexor tendon sheath. This can cause rupture of the flexor tendon. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no report on tendon rupture after a single corticosteroid injection. Moreover, there are no guidelines for patients with tendinopathy who want to return to sports after corticosteroid injection. Clinicians who perform local steroid injections for tendinopathy treatment should be aware of the possible dangers of tendon rupture and should confirm that steroids are not administrated into the tendon. Patients should also be warned about returning to sports prematurely and should be encouraged to gradually resume sports after the injection to prevent further damage. Herein, we report an unusual case of flexor digitorum profundus rupture after a single corticosteroid injection in a 57-yr-old male golfer and we also present a review of the literature.