Comparison of Bobath Therapy and Motor Relearning Program (MRP) to Improve Motor Control of the Upper Limb in Stroke Patients

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Bobath Therapy and the Motor Relearning Program (MRP) in improving motor control of the upper limb in stroke patients. Study design: It was a Randomized Control Trial Study. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted at The Physiotherapy Clinic, RWP for 6 months from 1st July 2024 to 31st December 2024. Material and Methods: A total of 40 stroke patients with age between 50-75 years with upper limb motor deficits were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the Bobath Therapy group (n=20) or the Motor Relearning Program group (n=20). Both groups received 12 sessions of targeted therapy over four weeks. Outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Limb (FMA-UL), the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) to assess motor function, movement quality, and spasticity. Pre- and post-intervention scores were compared using paired t-tests and between-group differences were analyzed using an independent t-test. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in motor control, as evidenced by increased FMA-UL and WMFT scores. However, the Bobath Therapy group demonstrated greater improvements in motor function (p<0.05) and movement quality compared to the MRP group. The MRP group showed a significant reduction in spasticity, but the Bobath group showed more substantial functional recovery (p<0.05).