Authors: (including presenting author): :
Leung NS, Mok YT, Lee KF, O HH, Wong CM, Chao YLC, Leung YYC
Affiliation: :
Physiotherapy Department, Princess Margaret Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Stroke rehabilitation
Keyword 2: :
Subacute stroke
Keyword 3: :
Physiotherapy
Keyword 4: :
Extended care
Introduction: :
The Physiotherapy Department in Lai King Building (LKB) of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) provided inpatient extended rehabilitation services for subacute stroke patients by integrating conventional physiotherapy interventions with advanced rehabilitation technologies, including gait analysis treadmill and virtual reality–based exercises, to optimize recovery and physical performance. The rehabilitation program tailored to improve strength, mobility, coordination, balance, and gait performance. Additionally, a 365-day Stroke Rehabilitation Service has been established since 2019, offering therapy on weekends and public holidays to maximize functional outcomes and facilitated early discharge and community re-integration.
Objectives: :
To evaluate the effects of physiotherapy in subacute stroke rehabilitation services on improving mobility status and functional performance at inpatient extended care hospital setting.
Methodology: :
This was a retrospective study design. Patients diagnosed with stroke and received physiotherapy inpatient stroke rehabilitation program that discharged from the Medical and Geriatric Wards in LKB of PMH between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2025 were included for analysis. Outcomes on Modified Functional Ambulation Classification (MFAC), Modified Rivermead Mobility Index (MRMI), Hand Grip Strength (HG), and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) at admission and discharge status were retrieved for analysis.
Result & Outcome: :
A total of 332 subacute stroke patients (139 females, 193 males) with a mean age of 74.8±2.3 years were analyzed. On average, patients received 30±18.9 physiotherapy sessions. The averaged mean length of stay 34±21.5 days. Upon discharge, the proportion of patients with MFAC categories III–V (dependent to supervised walkers) increased by 21.9% (p < 0.001) and categories VI–VII (independent indoor or outdoor walkers) by 4.3% (p < 0.05), while categories I–II (lyers and sitters) decreased by 26.2% (p < 0.001). MRMI scores improved significantly from 10.4 to 16.4 (p < 0.001). Mean hand grip strength of affected hand improved from 2.69 kgf to 4.14 kgf (p < 0.001), and TUG test time shortened from 21.5 to 18.8 seconds (p = 0.060). The results demonstrated that inpatient physiotherapy rehabilitation services significantly improved the mobility, balance, ambulatory and functional performance in people with subacute stroke.
