%0 Journal Article
%A Eschweiler, Mareike
%A Bohr, Lara
%A Kessler, Josef
%A Fink, Gereon R.
%A Kalbe, Elke
%A Onur, Oezguer A.
%T Combined cognitive and motor training improves the outcome in the early phase after stroke and prevents a decline of executive functions: A pilot study
%J Neurorehabilitation
%V 48
%N 1
%@ 1878-6448
%C Amsterdam
%I IOS Press
%M FZJ-2021-00974
%P 97 - 108
%D 2021
%Z Kein Post-print verfügbar!
%X BACKGROUND:The negative impact of cognitive dysfunction on motor rehabilitation as a relearning-process is well known in stroke patients. However, evidence for combined cognitive and motor training (CMT) is lacking.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of combined CMT in early stroke rehabilitation.METHODS:In a controlled pilot study, 29 moderately affected stroke patients with low-level motor performance and cognitive impairment received motor therapy plus either cognitive (experimental group, EG) or low-frequency ergometer training (control group, CG) for eight days.RESULTS:Both groups improved their motor functioning significantly. After training, between-group comparison revealed significant differences for cognitive flexibility and trends for set-shifting, working memory, and reaction control in favor of the EG. Within-group effects showed improvement across all cognitive domains in the EG, which correlated with gains in bed-mobility, while the CG showed no significant improvement in cognition. Rather, a trend towards reaction control decline was observed, which correlated with less functional progression and recovery. Furthermore, a decline in cognitive flexibility, set-shifting, and working memory was descriptively observed.CONCLUSIONS:Combined CMT may enhance cognition and motor relearning early after stroke and is superior to single motor training. Further studies are needed to replicate these results and investigate long-term benefits.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%$ 33386825
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000613235800010
%R 10.3233/NRE-201583
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/890460