Year: 2025 | Month: July | Volume: 15 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 355-364
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250741
The Triad of Post-Stroke Fatigue, Cognition, and Motor Performance: A Study in Chronic Stroke Survivors
Dr. Krishna J. Mistry (PT)1, Dr. Dhwanit S. Shah (PT)2
1Assistant Professor, M. B. Gohil Institute of Medical Science and Research Center, Navsari,
2Senior Lecturer, Government Physiotherapy College, Surat.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Krishna J. Mistry (PT)
ABSTRACT
Background: In chronic stroke survivors, post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common but underdiagnosed illness that has a major impact on recovery, motor function, and cognitive function. Comprehending these associations is crucial for focused rehabilitation tactics.
Methods: 41 chronic stroke survivors between the ages of 46 and 65 participated in a cross-sectional study. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) were among the tests used. The PHQ-9 was used to screen for depression. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation was used.
Result: The findings showed that fatigue was significantly correlated negatively with walking endurance (r = -0.428, p = 0.000128), upper limb motor performance (r = -0.4389, p = 0.000082), and cognitive function (r = -0.5973, p < 0.00001). Compared to motor exhaustion, cognitive fatigue was more strongly associated with these outcomes.
Discussion: According to the results, cognitive fatigue has a significant influence on both physical recovery and cognitive function in chronic stroke survivors. To enhance functional outcomes, effective rehabilitation should incorporate cognitive retraining, endurance-building exercises, and fatigue management techniques.
Conclusion: Cognitive function, motor function, and endurance are all greatly impacted by post-stroke fatigue. Chronic stroke survivors' quality of life and rate of recovery can be improved by including fatigue management techniques into rehabilitation programs.
Key words: Chronic Stroke, Cognitive Impairment, Motor Performance, Post-Stroke Fatigue, Stroke Rehabilitation.