Objective: Early mobilization is associated with improved mortality rates and is therefore actively implemented in recent years even for patients with severe stroke. Although previous studies reported the effects of early mobilization with stroke, few have fully considered background factors such as severity of stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of early mobilization (within 48 hours) on complications of immobility and the functional prognosis in patients with moderate-to-severe stroke.Methods: The study included 83 patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). Patients were categorized into those who underwent early mobilization and those who underwent mobilization after 48 hours. We retrospectively investigated the effects of early mobilization on complications of immobility (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep-vein thrombosis, pressure sores, and pulmonary embolism) and functional prognosis (modified Rankin Scale at discharge or moving on to convalescent rehabilitation).Results: The incidence of pneumonia and the percentage of patients with a modified Rankin scale score at discharge was significantly lower in the early mobilization than in the late mobilization group (mobilization after 48 hours)(p<0.01).Conclusion: Early mobilization was of significance for preventing complications associated with immobility, especially pneumonia, and for improvement in functional prognosis.

Objective: Studies have reported that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) intervention can improve patient motivation to complete rehabilitation treatment.Methods: AAT was administered four times for a patient whose rehabilitation treatment was hindered by pain and depression following cervical myelopathy surgery. Ward nurses evaluated the patient's behavior and facial expressions before and during each AAT session using our hospital's own Faces Pain Scale. The AAT intervention was timed to coincide with the implementation of training items that were likely to induce pain.Results: The patient, who underwent cervical myelopathy surgery and whose rehabilitation treatment was severely hindered, reported significantly improved treatment motivation after the AAT intervention. A significantly better treatment response was obtained immediately after the AAT intervention. The Faces Pain Scale score was the worst prior to starting AAT (at 5). However, it peaked at 1 and remained there from the initial intervention to the fourth and final intervention. These results suggest immediate and lasting effects of AAT.Conclusion: Significant changes were observed after the initial AAT intervention, suggesting that its effect was more significant for the awareness of pain and motivation for rehabilitation than for pain relief.

Objective: Early mobilization is associated with improved mortality rates and is therefore actively implemented in recent years even for patients with severe stroke. Although previous studies reported the effects of early mobilization with stroke, few have fully considered background factors such as severity of stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of early mobilization (within 48 hours) on complications of immobility and the functional prognosis in patients with moderate-to-severe stroke.Methods: The study included 83 patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). Patients were categorized into those who underwent early mobilization and those who underwent mobilization after 48 hours. We retrospectively investigated the effects of early mobilization on complications of immobility (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep-vein thrombosis, pressure sores, and pulmonary embolism) and functional prognosis (modified Rankin scale at discharge or moving on to convalescent rehabilitation).Results: The incidence of pneumonia and the percentage of patients with a modified Rankin scale score at discharge was significantly lower in the early mobilization than in the late mobilization group (mobilization after 48 hours)(p<0.01).Conclusion: Early mobilization was of significance for preventing complications associated with immobility, especially pneumonia, and for improvement in functional prognosis.

Objective: Studies have reported that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) intervention can improve patient motivation to complete rehabilitation treatment.Methods: AAT was administered four times for a patient whose rehabilitation treatment was hindered by pain and depression following cervical myelopathy surgery. Ward nurses evaluated the patient's behavior and facial expressions before and during each AAT session using our hospital's own Faces Pain Scale. The AAT intervention was timed to coincide with the implementation of training items that were likely to induce pain.Results: The patient, who underwent cervical myelopathy surgery and whose rehabilitation treatment was severely hindered, reported significantly improved treatment motivation after the AAT intervention. A significantly better treatment response was obtained immediately after the AAT intervention. The Faces Pain Scale score was the worst prior to starting AAT (at 5). However, it peaked at 1 and remained there from the initial intervention to the fourth and final intervention. These results suggest immediate and lasting effects of AAT.Conclusion: Significant changes were observed after the initial AAT intervention, suggesting that its effect was more significant for the awareness of pain and motivation for rehabilitation than for pain relief.