Effect of unilateral visual neglect on functional status and rehabilitation outcomes in stroke patients

Objective: Unilateral visual neglect (UVN) is a clinical syndrome described as a failure to attend or respond to objects on the contra-lesion side. The aims of this study were to investigate the 12 weeks specialized supervised and home-based exercise program effects at functional status and rehabilitation outcomes in stroke patients diagnosed with UVN, and to compare the follow-up results of one year.Methods: Patients were allocated into two groups to receive a 12-week physiotherapy intervention with random card selection. The supervised exercise group (n=10) continued with standardized regular three exercise sessions per week with physiotherapist. The home exercise group (n=10) was given written exercise program and were encouraged to exercise with weekly calling by the physiotherapist through the intervention.Disability (Barthel Index-BI), mobility (Rivermead Mobility Index-RMI), posture (Postural Assessment for Stroke Scale-PASS), balance (Berg Balance Scale-BBS), and neglect severity in everyday tasks (Catherine Bergego Scale-CBS) were assessed before the treatment, at third months and the first year.Results: At the beginning of the study, there was no statistically significance in demographic characteristics and outcome measures between the groups (p>0.05). The values of the BI, PASS, RMI and BBS increased statistically significantly in both groups at third months and the first year (p<0.05). The repeated measures ANOVA test was used to determine the group and time effect for all clinical variables. There was no significant time by group interaction for all outcomes, whereas time effect was significant for BI, PASS, RMI, BBS, and CBS scores (p<0.05). It was stated a strong correlation between BI and the PASS, RMI and BBS parameters (p<0.01). The CBS scores were strongly correlated with the scores of the RMI, BBS, BI, and PASS (p<0.05).Conclusions: Exercise programme which were developed on the basis of UVN were displayed the same outcomes either supervised or home-based. These benefits may have retention provided that regular controls are not omitted.