Predictors of high dose of massed practice following stroke

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the factors that affect patients’ ability to carry out high dose of massed practice. METHODS: Patients with stroke were included in the study if they had no severe impairment in motor and cognitive functions. Dose of massed practice, motor function, perceived amount and quality of use of the arm in the real world, wrist and elbow flexors spasticity, dominant hand stroke, presence of shoulder pain, and central post-stroke pain were assessed on the first day. Dose of massed practice was assessed again on the second day. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear multiple regression. RESULTS: Only motor function (β = –0.310, r = 0.787, P < 0.001), perceived amount of use (β = 0.300, r = 0.823; 95% CI = 0.34–107.224, P = 0.049), severity of shoulder pain (β = –0.155, r = –0.472, P = 0.019), wrist flexors spasticity (β = –0.154, r = –0.421, P = 0.002), age (β = –0.129, r = –0.366, P = 0.018), dominant hand stroke (β = –0.091, r = –0.075, P = 0.041), and sex (β = –0.090, r = –0.161, P = 0.036) significantly influenced patients’ ability to carry out high dose of massed practice. CONCLUSION: Many factors affect patients’ ability to carry out high dose of massed practice. Understanding these factors can help in designing appropriate rehabilitation.