Objective: To assess the effectiveness of upper limb movement rehabilitation by exercise therapy in post-stroke patients at the Department of Traditional Medicine - Rehabilitation, Tra Vinh University Hospital.
Subject and methods: An interventional clinical study with a before-after comparison on 60 post-stroke patients with hemiplegia treated from January to December 2025. Patients underwent a standardized exercise therapy program combined with electroacupuncture and acupressure, 60 minutes/day × 5 days/week for 30 days. Outcomes were evaluated using the MRC scale, the ARAT and the Barthel Index.
Result: The mean MRC score increased from 1.85 ± 1.20 to 2.68 ± 1.25; the mean ARAT score rose from 24.15 ± 17.50 to 35.82 ± 18.24; the Barthel Index increased from 42.80 ± 15.60 to 65.40 ± 17.80 (p < 0.001). The proportion with poor hand function decreased from 41.67% to 25%; good function increased from 18.33% to 33.33%.
Conclusion: Exercise therapy combined with traditional medicine clearly improves upper-limb motor rehabilitation, especially for gross movements and grasping large objects; fine motor functions recover more slowly and require a longer treatment period.