Effect of Recreational Activities on Upper Extremity Functional Recovery in a Chronic Stroke Survivor: Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64882/ijrt.v14.i2.1441Keywords:
Stroke rehabilitation, upper extremity, recreational therapy, neuroplasticity, functional recovery, case studyAbstract
Background: Over 50% of stroke survivors have upper extremity disability, which severely reduces their level of independence and quality of life. Although there are quantifiable advantages to traditional therapy, patient motivation and adherence are often still below ideal levels. Through neuroplasticity, recreational activities provide an interesting and intrinsically rewarding method that may improve motor rehabilitation. The rehabilitation process of a chronic stroke survivor who took part in a structured recreational activities program as part of a larger randomized controlled experiment is described in this case report.
Presentation of Case: A 68-year-old man with right hemiparesis and a baseline Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity [FMA-UE] score of 37/66 showed signs of substantial upper extremity impairment seven months after an ischemic stroke. He reported minor depressed symptoms, decreased social interaction, and difficulties carrying out everyday tasks. After being randomly assigned to the intervention group, the patient took part in a 12-week program of organized recreational activities that included music therapy, adapted sports, and creative arts. The sessions lasted 60 minutes each and were held three to four times a week.
Intervention: The patient received a phase-by-phase rehabilitation program that focused on repetitive, pleasurable, and task-specific upper extremity exercises. In order to foster reaching, gripping, coordinated arm motions, fine motor control, and bilateral integration, the curriculum included seated volleyball, clay modeling, painting, and drumming activities. Every activity was carried out in a group environment to promote peer support and social engagement.
Outcome Measures: The Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), and Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) were used to measure functional recovery. At baseline, six weeks, and twelve weeks, assessments were carried out.
Results: The patient showed notable gains in every area after the 12-week schedule of leisure activities. The FMA- UE score rose from 37/66 to 56/66, surpassing the 5.5-point minimum clinically significant difference. The FAI score rose from 23/45 to 33/45, the HADS score dropped from 16/42 to 9/42, and the SIS overall score improved from 47/100 to 72/100. The patient expressed great pleasure with the treatment and attended 34 of the 36 planned sessions (94.4% adherence).
Conclusion: This example shows that an organized, 12-week program of recreational activities may result in clinically significant improvements in a chronic stroke survivor's quality of life, psychological well-being, social involvement, and upper extremity function. The motivating impact of pleasurable, task-specific activities is supported by the high adherence rate. A useful addition to traditional stroke recovery is recreational therapy.
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