Effects of Inpatient Rehabilitation on Functional Recovery of Stroke Patients: a Comparison of Chronic Stroke Patients with and without Cognitive Impairment

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inpatient rehabilitation on functional recovery of chronic stroke patients with cognitive impairment. [Subjects] This study recruited 63 patients, who underwent a rehabilitation program after stroke between May, 2008 and May, 2010. Patients were divided according to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) total scores into a cognitive impairment group (MMSE<21) and a non-cognitive impairment group (MMSE >= 22). All patients were evaluated ADL performance, balance and walking ability at admission and discharge. [Results] The scores of Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and walking ability of chronic stroke patients with cognitive impairment improved significantly after 3 months of the rehabilitation program. [Conclusion] These results suggest that inpatient rehabilitation improves the functional recovery of chronic stroke patients with cognitive impairment.