Stroke patients experience neuromotor deficits, resulting in symptoms of paralysis on one side of the body (hemiparesis), one of which occurs in the upper extremities. One non-pharmacological therapy that can be used to increase muscle strength is rubber ball grip therapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of rubber ball grips on changes in upper extremity muscle strength in non-hemorrhagic stroke patients in the Flamboyan Ward 2, Darmayu General Hospital, Ponorogo.
This study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, involving 26 non-hemorrhagic stroke patients in the Flamboyan Ward 2, Darmayu General Hospital, Ponorogo. Data were collected by measuring muscle strength using a handgrip dynamometer and administering the rubber ball grip intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
The results showed that upper extremity muscle strength before the rubber ball grip intervention showed that 16 patients (61.5%) had poor muscle strength, and after the rubber ball grip intervention, 22 patients had increased muscle strength. Most respondents had moderate muscle strength (16 patients (61.5%) and good muscle strength (6 patients (23%).
Based on the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, the p-value was 0.000 <0.05, indicating that the rubber ball grip significantly affected changes in upper extremity muscle strength in non-hemorrhagic stroke patients in the Flamboyan 2 Ward, Darmayu General Hospital, Ponorogo. The repeated squeezing and releasing actions required during therapy increased flexibility and improved hand movement, improving overall hand function. The effectiveness of rubber ball grip therapy varies depending on the severity of the stroke, the patient's individual health condition, and other factors affecting the recovery process.