TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Repeated Rehabilitation “Tune-Ups” on Functional Recovery After Focal Ischemia in Rats
AU - Clarke, Jared
AU - Rytter, Hana Malá
AU - Windle, Victoria
AU - Chernenko, Garry
AU - Corbett, Dale
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Background. For most stroke survivors, rehabilitation therapy is the only treatment option available. The beneficial effects of early rehabilitation on neuroplasticity and functional recovery have been modeled in experimental stroke using a combination of enriched environment and rehabilitation. However, the impact of a secondary intervention, such as a periodic return to therapy, remains unclear. Objective. This study examines whether a return to enriched rehabilitation (ie, “tune-up”) can further promote functional recovery or produce beneficial changes in brain plasticity in the chronic phase of stroke recovery. Methods. Rats were exposed to focal ischemia (endothelin-1 applied to forelimb sensorimotor cortex and dorsolateral striatum) and allowed to recover either in standard housing or in a combinationof enriched environment and rehabilitative reaching for 9 weeks. Animals were then exposed to rotating periods of standard housing (5 weeks) and intensive “tune-up” therapy consisting of various sensorimotor/cognitive activities (2 weeks). Functional recovery was assessed using the Montoya staircase, beam-traversing, and cylinder tests, and Golgi–Cox analysis was used to examine dendritic complexity in the contralesional forelimb motor cortex. Results. Although early enriched rehabilitation significantly improved sensorimotor function in both the beam and staircase tests, “tune-up” therapy had no effect on recovery. Golgi–Cox analysis revealed no effect of treatment on dendritic complexity. Conclusions. This study reaffirms the benefits of early rehabilitation for functional recovery after stroke. However, “tune-up” therapy provided no benefit in ischemic animals regardless of earlier rehabilitation experience. It is possiblethat alternative approaches in the chronic phase may prove more effective.
AB - Background. For most stroke survivors, rehabilitation therapy is the only treatment option available. The beneficial effects of early rehabilitation on neuroplasticity and functional recovery have been modeled in experimental stroke using a combination of enriched environment and rehabilitation. However, the impact of a secondary intervention, such as a periodic return to therapy, remains unclear. Objective. This study examines whether a return to enriched rehabilitation (ie, “tune-up”) can further promote functional recovery or produce beneficial changes in brain plasticity in the chronic phase of stroke recovery. Methods. Rats were exposed to focal ischemia (endothelin-1 applied to forelimb sensorimotor cortex and dorsolateral striatum) and allowed to recover either in standard housing or in a combinationof enriched environment and rehabilitative reaching for 9 weeks. Animals were then exposed to rotating periods of standard housing (5 weeks) and intensive “tune-up” therapy consisting of various sensorimotor/cognitive activities (2 weeks). Functional recovery was assessed using the Montoya staircase, beam-traversing, and cylinder tests, and Golgi–Cox analysis was used to examine dendritic complexity in the contralesional forelimb motor cortex. Results. Although early enriched rehabilitation significantly improved sensorimotor function in both the beam and staircase tests, “tune-up” therapy had no effect on recovery. Golgi–Cox analysis revealed no effect of treatment on dendritic complexity. Conclusions. This study reaffirms the benefits of early rehabilitation for functional recovery after stroke. However, “tune-up” therapy provided no benefit in ischemic animals regardless of earlier rehabilitation experience. It is possiblethat alternative approaches in the chronic phase may prove more effective.
U2 - 10.1177/1545968309341067
DO - 10.1177/1545968309341067
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 19675122
SN - 1545-9683
VL - 23
SP - 886
EP - 894
JO - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
JF - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
IS - 9
ER -