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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2026, vol. 32, issue3
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2026323.7026
Published online: 10 August 2026
Original article
J of IMAB. 2026 Jul-Sep;32(3):7026-7030
IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH A KINESITHERAPEUTIC APPROACH IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE TREATED WITH INTRAVENOUS THROMBOLYSIS
Mariela Filipova1
, Krasimira Zlatkova1, Yulian Zlatkov1, Miglena Tsvetkova-Gaberska1, Gergana Nenova2
, David Kantchev3, Daniela Popova3,
1) Department of Kinesitherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Health Care and Sport, South-West University “Neofit Rilski” Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.
2) Department of Kinesitherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
3) Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Nationally and internationally, various strategies are being sought and developed to improve the quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke who have reached different degrees of disability following an acute incident.
Aim: The study aims to monitor improvements in the quality of life of patients who have experienced an ischemic stroke.
Materials and Methods:One hundred patients aged 50–70 years were examined in the period 2008–2014 in the Neurology Department of a Multidisciplinary Hospital for Active Treatment in Blagoevgrad. The experimental group consisted of 10 patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis. Control group 1 consisted of 45 patients, who did not receive thrombolysis and underwent the same kinesitherapeutic methodology applied to patients the EG. Control group 2 consisted of 45 patients, who received a standard kinesitherapeutic program.
Results and Analysis: Our data regarding the recovery of motor function and quality of life in patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis within the first 3 hours of acute stroke onset are comparable with literature data. After the applied methodology and kinesitherapy, a large proportion of patients achieved functional independence, with relatively restored muscle strength and no tendency toward pathological muscle tone.
Conclusion: Data analysis shows that a significant portion of patients in the experimental and control group 1 had a pronounced functional deficit upon hospitalization but could be rehabilitated through specialized exercises from our methodology by the time of discharge, whereas recovery in control group 2 was slower.
Keywords: quality of life, intravenous thrombolysis, kinesitherapy, ischemic stroke,
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Please cite this article as: Filipova M, Zlatkova K, Zlatkov Y, Tsvetkova-Gaberska M, Nenova G, Kantchev D, Popova D. Improving Quality of Life Through a Kinesitherapeutic Approach in Patients with Ischemic Stroke Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis. J of IMAB. 2026 Jul-Sep;32(3):7026-7030. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2026323.7026]
Correspondence to: Gergana Boncheva Nenova, Department of Kinesitherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Varna; 1, Hristo Smirnenski Str., 9002 Varna, Bulgaria. E-mail: geri_nenova@yahoo.com
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Received: 07 January 2026
Published online: 10 August 2026