Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on activity of daily living (ADL) and injured nerve function of old stroke patients.Methods 78 old stroke patients were randomly divided into the simple rehabilitation group (36 cases) and multidisciplinary rehabilitation group (42 cases). The patients of the simple rehabilitation group were treated with Bobath method only, those of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group were added with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The treatment course of two groups was 6 weeks. All patients in two groups were assessed with Modified Brathel Index (MBI) for ADL before treatment and every week after treatment and the evaluation of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was also performed for injured nerve function at same times.Results After 3 weeks treatment, the scores of MBI and NIHSS of all patients improved, but there was no significant difference compared with that before treatment ( P>0.05). After 6 weeks treatment, the NIHSS scores of the patients in the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group was significant superior to that before treatment ( P<0.05), the MBI scores was also superior to that before treatment ( P<0.01); while, the NIHSS and MBI scores of the patients in the simple rehabilitation group also improved compared with that before treatment, but no significant difference ( P>0.05).Conclusion Both multidisciplinary rehabilitation and simple rehabilitation are all effect on ADL and injured nerve function of old stroke patients, but the effect of multidisciplinary rehabilitation is superior to that of simple rehabilitation (using Bobath method only).

Key words: stroke in elder, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, Chinese herbs