Publication

Abstract : pWe noted some of our stroke patients reported improvements after Ayurvedic massage, while others did not. There is a little indexed literature to support the use of this in rehabilitation. To objectively measured the differences between patients with stroke who received Ayurvedic massage in addition to standard Physiotherapy (PT) versus those who received only standard PT. Design-Prospective case control study, retrospectively analyzed Setting- Tertiary level hospital, Neuro-rehabilitation unit Participants- Fifty-two patients undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation were prospectively followed post stroke. They were self selected one month from the event for Ayurvedic Massage with regular PT or PT alone. Twenty five received Ayurvedic massage with PT and twenty seven received only PT. All participants completed treatment. Duration- 2014-2017 Intervention- Age, gender, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale result, number of co-morbidities, and whether cases were deemed simple or complex were taken at baseline. All patients received 6 hours of physical therapy averaged over a week. Massage was delivered daily for a total of 10 sessions followed by steam application. Main Outcome Measurements:- Brunnstrom Leg progression, spasticity using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), time to achieve stand with minimal assistance, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score for walking at discharge, use of antispastic drugs at discharge were followed. Patients were categorized as simple or complicated stroke based on events prior to rehabilitation. Both simple and complicated patients who received Ayurvedic massage had lower MAS and need for antispastic drugs, achieved standing with minimal assistance sooner, and had better locomotion at discharge. All these differences were significant. Conclusion- Utilizing Ayurvedic massage in post stroke patients with flaccidity can promote faster standing with minimal assistance and lead to less need for antispastic drugs at discharge./p