Analysis of dependencies between Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale test and Berg Balance Scale test as an assessment of the increased muscle tone in chronic-phase patients after a ischemic stroke

Introduction: The basic functional assessment, on the basis of which rehabilitation programming is carried out in a patient after a stroke, consists in examining the efficiency of the upper and lower limbs, balance and i.a. muscle tension. Therefore, it is important to identify and understand the relationships between these basic data in order to make conclusions easier and to set good goals in rehabilitation. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between the assessment of the motor efficiency of the lower limb, measured Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA) and the balance, measured Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and between the FMA and the assessment of muscle tone, measured modified Ashworth scale in chronic-phase patients after an ischemic stroke before and after a 6-week rehabilitation process. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 37 patients after stroke (post-stroke duration > 1 year). All patients were subjected to a double functional assessment. Main measures: motor function in the lower limb, balance and spasticity in the lower limb. Spearman correlation coefficients was used to identify and analyze the relationship between the FMA and BBS as an assessment of the increased muscle tone. Results: There was a highly significant p <0.0001 positive correlation between the FMA and BBS tests: first period r = 0.6120, second period r = 0.6604. There was a highly significant (p <0.0001) negative correlation between the assessment of FMA test and the muscle tone: first period r = -0.6814, second period r = -0.6532. Conclusions: People in chronic phase after an ischemic stroke have a high positive correlation between the motor efficiency of the lower limb and balance. This study shows also a high, negative correlation between the motor efficiency of the lower limb, and the muscle tone of this limb. Both before and after rehabilitation process.