The time of initial stroke onset to therapy varied from 30 days to 8 years in the intervention group. The treatment received at Thung Bo Paen Rehabilitation Centre is described in detail elsewhere . In brief, patients at the Centre are taken through a daily procedure that includes: a hot compression that is applied for approximately 30 min using a heated crinum lilly leaf to the whole body to relieve bruising, swelling and pain; another hot compressis applied to the legs using various herbs, in the form of a herbal compression ball (composed of Plai (Zingiber cassumunarRoxb.), lemon grass and kaffirlime), to relax themuscles and to improve muscle mobility, for approximately 30 min; a regime of Thai massage and passive range and motion of joints is used to improve muscle rehabilitation;