THE USE OF SPECIALIZED KINESITHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE WHO ARE TREATED WITH TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR

ABSTRACT Introduction: In kinesitherapy practice, the challenge is the use of venous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator, due to the relatively severe general condition and the need for kinesitherapy in the first 12 hours of application of tissue plasminogen activator. In our methodology, we introduce the application of passive and active exercises, PNF method, mirror therapy, kinesiotape, etc. Aim and objective: The aim of the study is to compare the methodology proposed by us with standard ones. The subject of the study were 15 patients with ischemic stroke who were treated with venous thrombolysis. Their advantages and disadvantages in the application will be highlighted Methods: The study was conducted in the period from 2008-2014 in the Neurology Department at the Hospital in Blagoevgrad. The use of specialized kinesitherapy in 15 patients with ischemic stroke treated with venous thrombolysis (experimental group) was compared with the use of standard methods in non-thrombolized (control group) patients. In our study, we used the Barthel Index to verify the data. Statistically significant difference is reported using nonparametric statistics and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: In our study, we examined the activities of daily living using the Barthel index scale. All patients were tested on the day of hospitalization, on the 5th day, and on the 30th day. Of the experimental group, there was a statistically significant difference Asymp. Sig. ≤ .001, which proves that there was a change in the activities of daily living. No sta-tistically significant difference was registered in the control group. Discussion: Through intravenous thrombolysis, a specialized kinesitherapy program, including passive, active move-ments in the uninjured limbs, in mirror therapy and kinesiotaping patients have a better quality of life and faster recovery occurs.