Inpatient Rehabilitation: 83-Year-Old Female With Guillain Barré Syndrome
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
28-4-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
28-4-2026 2:00 PM
Description
Background/Purpose. Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyneuropathy characterized by rapidly progressive, symmetrical weakness, sensory disturbance, areflexia, and fatigue.1 The purpose of this case report is to illustrate inpa tient rehabilitation management of an older adult with Guillain–Barré syndrome, emphasizing functional progression and clinical decision-making in a population underrepresented in rehabilitation literature.
Case description. An 83-year-old female presen ted to inpatient rehabilitation with acute ascending weakness, sensory disturbances, neuropathic pain, and fatigue. She was admitted to inpatient rehabilitation during the plateau to early recovery phase without respiratory compromise. At evaluation, she required maximal assistance of two for bed mobility, transfers, and 50 ft ambulation using an EVA walker. Examination revealed lower-extremity strength 1–3/5, impaired proprioception, high fall risk, and significant activity intolerance. Rehabilitation em phasized task-specific mobility training and symptom-limited progression.
Outcomes. After 3 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, she progressed to independence in bed mobility, transfers, and ambulated 450 ft with a rollator at discharge. She independentl y negotiated 12 stairs with bilateral rails. Timed Up and Go improved from 30.33 to 27 seconds. Self-selected gait speed increased from 0.50 m/s to 0.65 m/s. Functional gains supported progression toward discharge with reduced assistance.
Discussion. Th is case highlights the potential for functional recovery during inpatient rehabilitation in older adults with GBS while emphasizing the importance of individualized clinical reasoning. These findings contribute to limited evidence guiding exercise dosing and progressing strategies for older, medically complex individuals with GBS.
Recommended Citation
Dupont, Adele, "Inpatient Rehabilitation: 83-Year-Old Female With Guillain Barré Syndrome" (2026). School of Allied Health Professions Research Day. 3.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/ahrd/2026/posters/3
Inpatient Rehabilitation: 83-Year-Old Female With Guillain Barré Syndrome
Background/Purpose. Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyneuropathy characterized by rapidly progressive, symmetrical weakness, sensory disturbance, areflexia, and fatigue.1 The purpose of this case report is to illustrate inpa tient rehabilitation management of an older adult with Guillain–Barré syndrome, emphasizing functional progression and clinical decision-making in a population underrepresented in rehabilitation literature.
Case description. An 83-year-old female presen ted to inpatient rehabilitation with acute ascending weakness, sensory disturbances, neuropathic pain, and fatigue. She was admitted to inpatient rehabilitation during the plateau to early recovery phase without respiratory compromise. At evaluation, she required maximal assistance of two for bed mobility, transfers, and 50 ft ambulation using an EVA walker. Examination revealed lower-extremity strength 1–3/5, impaired proprioception, high fall risk, and significant activity intolerance. Rehabilitation em phasized task-specific mobility training and symptom-limited progression.
Outcomes. After 3 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, she progressed to independence in bed mobility, transfers, and ambulated 450 ft with a rollator at discharge. She independentl y negotiated 12 stairs with bilateral rails. Timed Up and Go improved from 30.33 to 27 seconds. Self-selected gait speed increased from 0.50 m/s to 0.65 m/s. Functional gains supported progression toward discharge with reduced assistance.
Discussion. Th is case highlights the potential for functional recovery during inpatient rehabilitation in older adults with GBS while emphasizing the importance of individualized clinical reasoning. These findings contribute to limited evidence guiding exercise dosing and progressing strategies for older, medically complex individuals with GBS.