Late motor recovery is influenced by muscle tone changes after stroke

Feasibility of Adjunct Therapy with a Robotic Hand Orthosis after Botulinum Toxin Injections in Persons with Spasticity: A Pilot Study

Upper-limb spasticity, frequent after central nervous system lesions, is typically treated with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injections to reduce muscle tone and increase range of motion. However, performing adjunct physical therapy post-BoNT-A can be challenging due to residual weakness or spasticity. This study evaluates the feasibility of hand therapy using a robotic hand orthosis (RELab tenoexo) with a mobile phone application as an adjunct to BoNT-A injections. Five chronic spastic patients participated in a two-session pilot study. Functional (Box and Block Test (BBT), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)), and muscle tone (Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)) assessments were conducted to assess functional abilities and impairment, along with usability evaluations. In the first session, subjects received BoNT-A injections, and then they performed a simulated unsupervised therapy session with the RELab tenoexo in a second session a month later. Results showed that BoNT-A reduced muscle tone (from 12.2 to 7.4 MAS points). The addition of RELab tenoexo therapy was safe, led to functional improvements in four subjects (two-cube increase in BBT as well as 2.8 points in grasp and 1.3 points in grip on ARAT). Usability results indicate that, with minor improvements, adjunct RELab tenoexo therapy could enhance therapy doses and, potentially, long-term outcomes.

Which Acute Stroke Patients can Walk while Returning Home? Factors Predicting Ambulation

PURPOSE

Regaining gait is the primary goal in stroke rehabilitation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of premorbid features of acute stroke patients on the ambulatory level.

METHODS

The study included 174 patients who applied to our rehabilitation clinic within the first month after the onset of stroke. Demographic characteristics of patients, pre-stroke symptoms, and stroke characteristics were questioned from patient files and historical data. The ambulation levels of patients before and after rehabilitation were evaluated with the functional ambulation category. The relationship between demographic characteristics, pre-stroke symptoms, stroke characteristics, and ambulation levels of patients before and after rehabilitation was examined.

RESULTS

The presence of coronary heart diseases, atrial fibrillation, and nausea/vomiting before stroke were independent negative risk factors on both pre- and post-rehabilitation ambulation levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, advanced age, oxygen, and mechanical ventilation requirement were other negative independent risk factors on post-rehabilitation ambulation levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Knowing some of the pre-stroke characteristics of patients while applying rehabilitation programs may be useful in estimating the ambulatory levels on returning home.

A Preliminary Study of the Influence of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone Changes in Thoroughbred Racehorses with Back Pain

The reason for undertaking this study was to investigate soft tissue response to high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) by measuring changes in skin surface temperature and longissimus dorsi muscle tone in the thoracolumbar back area in Thoroughbreds with back pain and diagnosed with and without Kissing Spines Syndrome (KSS). Thoroughbreds aged 3-4 years with clinically presented back pain underwent a radiological examination (to assess a lack or presence of KSS) and longissimus dorsi muscle palpation (to assess muscle tone and pain degree). The subjects were divided into two groups, those with KSS (n = 10) and those without KSS (n = 10). A single HILT treatment on the longissimus dorsi muscle, on the left side, was performed. Thermographic examination and palpation were repeated before and after HILT to assess changes in skin surface temperature and muscle pain response. In both groups, HILT caused a significant increase in skin surface temperature of 2.5 °C on average and a palpation score reduction of 1.5 degrees on average (p = 0.005 for both measurements), without differences in any outcome measures between the groups. Furthermore, the correlation between changes in the average skin surface temperature and the average palpation scores in horses with and without KSS were negative (rho = 0.071 and r = -0.180, respectively; p > 0.05). The results of the present study are encouraging, but further studies with larger samples, a longer follow-up period and comparisons with placebo control groups are needed to draw a more valid conclusion.

An online method to monitor hand muscle tone during robot-assisted rehabilitation

Introduction: Robot-assisted neurorehabilitation is becoming an established method to complement conventional therapy after stroke and provide intensive therapy regimes in unsupervised settings (e.g., home rehabilitation). Intensive therapies may temporarily contribute to increasing muscle tone and spasticity, especially in stroke patients presenting tone alterations. If sustained without supervision, such an increase in muscle tone could have negative effects (e.g., functional disability, pain). We propose an online perturbation-based method that monitors finger muscle tone during unsupervised robot-assisted hand therapy exercises. Methods: We used the ReHandyBot, a novel 2 degrees of freedom (DOF) haptic device to perform robot-assisted therapy exercises training hand grasping (i.e., flexion-extension of the fingers) and forearm pronosupination. The tone estimation method consisted of fast (150 ms) and slow (250 ms) 20 mm ramp-and-hold perturbations on the grasping DOF, which were applied during the exercises to stretch the finger flexors. The perturbation-induced peak force at the finger pads was used to compute tone. In this work, we evaluated the method performance in a stiffness identification experiment with springs (0.97 and 1.57 N/mm), which simulated the stiffness of a human hand, and in a pilot study with subjects with increased muscle tone after stroke and unimpaired, which performed one active sensorimotor exercise embedding the tone monitoring method. Results: The method accurately estimates forces with root mean square percentage errors of 3.8% and 11.3% for the soft and stiff spring, respectively. In the pilot study, six chronic ischemic stroke patients [141.8 (56.7) months after stroke, 64.3 (9.5) years old, expressed as mean (std)] and ten unimpaired subjects [59.9 (6.1) years old] were tested without adverse events. The average reaction force at the level of the fingertip during slow and fast perturbations in the exercise were respectively 10.7 (5.6) N and 13.7 (5.6) N for the patients and 5.8 (4.2) N and 6.8 (5.1) N for the unimpaired subjects. Discussion: The proposed method estimates reaction forces of physical springs accurately, and captures online increased reaction forces in persons with stroke compared to unimpaired subjects within unsupervised human-robot interactions. In the future, the identified range of muscle tone increase after stroke could be used to customize therapy for each subject and maintain safety during intensive robot-assisted rehabilitation.

Perceived Facilitators and Barriers for Actual Arm Use during Everyday Activities in Community Dwelling Individuals with Chronic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to gain a deeper understanding of perceived predictors for actual arm use during daily functional activities.

METHODS

Qualitative study. Semi-structured interview data collected from individuals with chronic stroke living in the community. Codebook thematic analysis used for the data analysis.

RESULTS

Six participants 5-18 years post stroke with moderate to severe UE impairment. Three domains were identified: Person, Context, and Task. Themes for the Person domain included mental (cognitive effort, lack of acceptance), behavioral (routines/habits, self-evaluation), and physical (stiffness/fatigue). Themes for the Context domain included social environment (being in public, presence, and actions of others) and time constraints (being in a hurry). Themes for the task domain included necessity to complete bilateral and unilateral tasks, and safety (increased risk of accidents).

CONCLUSION

Actual arm use is a complex construct related to the characteristics of the person, contextual environment, and the nature of the task. Facilitators included cognitive effort, routines/habits, self-evaluation, and the perceived necessity. Barriers included in lack of acceptance, stiffness/fatigue, being in public, being in a hurry, and risk of ac-cidents. Social support was both a facilitator and a barrier. Our results support the growing call to adopt a broader biopsychosocial framework into rehabilitation delivery.

Plantar Pressure and Contact Area Measurement of Foot Abnormalities in Stroke Rehabilitation

BACKGROUND

Evaluation of plantar pressure in stroke patients is a parameter that could be used for monitoring and comparing how the timing of starting a rehabilitation program effects patient improvement.

METHODS

We performed the following clinical and functional evaluations: initial moment (T1), intermediate (T2), and final evaluation at one year (T3). At T1 we studied 100 stroke patients in two groups, A and B (each 50 patients). The first group, A, started rehabilitation in the first three months after having a stroke, and group B started after three months from the time of stroke. Due to the impediments observed during rehabilitation, we made biomechanic evaluation for two lots, I and II (each 25 patients). Assessment of the patient was carried out by clinical (neurologic examination), functional (using the Tinetti Functional Gait Assessment Test for classifying the gait), and biomechanical evaluation (maximal plantar pressure (Pmax), contact area (CA), and pressure distribution (COP)).

RESULTS

The Tinetti scale for gait had the following scores: for group A, from 1.34 at the initial moment (T1) to 10.64 at final evaluation (T3), and for group B, 3.08 at initial moment (T1) to 9 at final evaluation (T3). Distribution of COP in the left hemiparesis was uneven at T1 but evolved after rehabilitation. The right hemiparesis had uniform COP distribution even at T1, explained by motor dominance on the right side. CA and Pmax for lot I increased more than 100%, meaning that there is a possibility for favorable improvement if the patients start the rehabilitation program in the first three months after stroke. For lot II, increases of the parameters were less than lot I.

DISCUSSIONS

The recovery potential is higher for patients with right hemiparesis. Biomechanic evaluation showed diversity regarding compensatory mechanisms for the paretic and nonparetic lower limb.

CONCLUSIONS

CA and Pmax are relevant assessments for evaluating the effects on timing of starting a rehabilitation program after a stroke.

Quality of Life and Negative Affectivity at the Patients with Stroke and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Introduction. Stroke can be a severe debilitating medical condition due to its medical consequences. When it occurs at an individual with pre-existent musculoskeletal disorders, the medical recovery becomes more problematic. Some consequences, like negative affectivity and a reduced quality of life intervene to varying degrees. Material and method. Our study included 150 outpatients who were diagnosed with stroke and one of five types of musculoskeletal disorders (low back pain, osteoporosis, hand disorders, hip osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis). We divided all the patients in five sub-groups. To assess the negative affectivity (anxiety) and quality of life we administered to the patients two scales: the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) form X1 (anxiety a s a state) and form X2 (anxiety as a trait) and The Quality of Life (QOL). Results. In patients diagnosed with stroke and osteoporosis, the quality of life was 83.92% of the maximum value. Anxiety as a state rated at an average of 50.5 and anxiety as a trait rated at an average of 45. In the case of stroke and degenerative diseases at the lower limbs, we registered the quality of life of 77.68% in knee osteoarthritis and 75.89% in hip osteoarthritis; anxiety as a condition had an average value of 65 and, as a trait, a value of 63 in knee osteoarthritis, while in hip osteoarthritis the anxiety as a condition, and, in the same time, as a trait, rated both at 49.5. Low back pain in stroke patients had a quality of life of 77.86% of the maximum value; anxiety as a condition was 48 and the anxiety trait has the value of 47. For the patients with stroke and hand disease, the quality of life was assessed at 88.83%. Anxiety as a condition recorded an average value of 48 and the average value of 51 for anxiety as a trait recorded an average value of 51. Conclusions. The lowest score of quality of life is recorded in the patient diagnosed with stroke and hip osteoarthritis (75.89% of the maximum value). This association converges with body dynamics, as the overlap of these two medical conditions may explain reduced functionality. The value of anxiety as a condition and also as a trait was higher in patients with stroke and osteoarthritis of the knee (65 and 63, respectively). The latter result is understandable, as intense pain and, therefore, discomfort related to osteoarthritis of the knee is well known. Keywords: stroke, anxiety, quality of life, musculoskeletal conditions,

Weakened Effective Connectivity Related to Electroacupuncture in Stroke Patients with Prolonged Flaccid Paralysis: An EEG Pilot Study

Flaccid paralysis in the upper extremity is a severe motor impairment after stroke, which exists for weeks, months, or even years. Electroacupuncture treatment is one of the most widely used TCM therapeutic interventions for poststroke flaccid paralysis. However, the response to electroacupuncture in different durations of flaccid stage poststroke as well as in the topological configuration of the cortical network remains unclear. The objectives of this study are to explore the disruption of the cortical network in patients in different durations of flaccid stage and observe dynamic network reorganization during and after electroacupuncture. Resting-state networks were constructed from 18 subjects with flaccid upper extremity by partial directed coherence (PDC) analysis of multichannel EEG. They were allocated to three groups according to time after flaccid paralysis: the short-duration group (those with flaccidity for less than two months), the medium-duration group (those with flaccidity between two months and six months), and the long-duration group (those with flaccidity over six months). Compared with short-duration flaccid subjects, weakened effective connectivity was presented in medium-duration and long-duration groups before electroacupuncture. The long-duration group has no response in the cortical network during electroacupuncture. The global network measures of EEG data (sPDC, mPDC, and N) indicated that there was no significant difference among the three groups. These results suggested that the network connectivity reduced and weakly responded to electroacupuncture in patients with flaccid paralysis for over six months. These findings may help us to modulate the formulation of electroacupuncture treatment according to different durations of the flaccid upper extremity.

Strategies for the recovery of patients with post stroke sequelae in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction. The performance areas of post-stroke mention negatively correlated determinants in doing daily activities. The intrinsic motor recovery depends on the primary motor deficit. The functional recovery of patients with post-stroke sequelae is not only based on the remission of the functional deficit, but it also depends on the ability to develop adapted motor strategies.The objective of the study was to point out, for the patients with post-stroke sequelae, the sensitive, motor and cognitive changes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and method. The study included a number of 18 patients diagnosed with post-stroke sequelae and was conducted for a period of 5 months in an outpatient department. The recovery treatment included sessions of kinetotherapy and occupational therapy. The evaluation of the patients was made in the beginning of the treatment, at its end and at the control after 6 weeks. Scales were used to assess pain, the static and dynamic balance, the gait and the cognitive function. Results. The obtained results were statistically significant for the patients in the group. The values that were obtained by applying the tests and evaluation scales are consistent with the clinical evolution of the patients in the study group. Conclusions. Given the pandemic period we are going through, it is still necessary to carefully evaluate not only the sensory-motor functions of patients with post-stroke sequelae, but also the cognitive functions that are known to influence in some situations the recovery of these patients. Keywords: post-stroke sequelae, functional recovery, kinetic therapy,

The importance of balance and postural control in the recovery of stroke patients

Introduction.According to the criteria of WHO, stroke is a health condition that causes focal or global brain disorders (1), but without an apparent nonvascular cause. Stroke is considered the third leading cause of death in industrialized countries and accounts for 9% of all deaths, being considered one of the largest cases of disability in the world. Due to the medical, social and economic consequences that it causes, stroke is considered a public health issue. Purpose of research. The study starts from the idea that in the recovery of stroke patients it is important to have an individualized physiotherapy program adapted to the functional parts of each patient, having the role of improving the static and dynamic balance, of achieving postural control and finally functional independence. Material and method. The study included a number of 22 patients with sequelae stroke. They made physiotherapy, occupational therapy and occupational therapy sessions in the ambulatory, with the length of 1 hour, 3 times a week, in total 15 sessions. The evaluation of the patient was performed in the beginning of the treatment and at the end of it. Scales were used to assess mobility, static and dynamic balance, gait and functional independence. Results. The application of individualized treatment adapted to the functional body of each patient allowed a rapid recovery for the vast majority of the studied patients. The values obtained in the tests and evaluation scales are in accordance with the clinical evolution of the patients. Conclusions.The application of the treatment by kinetic therapy, work therapy and occupational therapy to the 22 patients, for a period of 3 weeks pointed out the reduction of pain, the improvement of movements, the recovery of transfers and gait, the postural improvement.

Method for Muscle Tone Monitoring During Robot-Assisted Therapy of Hand Function: A Proof of Concept

Robot-assisted rehabilitation of hand function is becoming an established approach to complement conventional therapy after stroke, particularly in view of its possible unsupervised use to promote an increase in therapy dose. Given their intensive therapy regime, robots may promote a temporary increase in hand muscle tone and spasticity, which may cause pain and negatively affect recovery. To integrate hand muscle tone monitoring into an assessment-driven robot-assisted therapy concept, an online assessment of muscle tone is proposed and incorporated into an exercise. The exercise was preliminarily tested in a pilot study with five chronic stroke survivors (non-spastic at rest) and five healthy participants to identify the range of potential physiological muscle tone change that can happen also in a non-spastic population during a single exercise session. In both groups, the muscle tone level during hand opening was higher in fast 20 mm ramp-and-hold perturbations (150 ms) compared to slow (250 ms) perturbations, and corresponded to a force change of approximately 4-5 N. Despite not being statistically significantly different, in the stroke group the force change (and the speed dependency) increased with exercise time. This information could serve as a basis to develop strategies to continuously adapt the difficulty and activity level required in robot-assisted rehabilitation and to monitor or even control the muscle tone evolution over time.

Predictors of functional and motor outcomes following upper limb robot-assisted therapy after stroke

Robot-assisted therapy is an effective treatment for stroke patients and has recently gained popularity. Clinicians and researchers are trying to identify predictors to stratify patients for ensuring better stroke rehabilitation outcomes. However, previous studies have reported controversial results regarding the predictors of upper limb recovery after robot-assisted therapy. Our objective was to determine whether the demographic and clinical characteristics of stroke patients influence the motor and functional outcomes after robot-assisted therapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 48 hemiplegic patients who performed upper limb goal-directed tasks using RAPAEL Smart Glove (Neofect, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea). Robot-assisted therapy was administered for 5 days a week over 4 weeks, and each session was for 30 minutes. The parameters of the primary outcomes after robot-assisted therapy were measured with the manual function test and functional independence measure. Correlation analysis showed that age, initial cognitive function, and the initial manual function test and the Modified Ashworth Scale for upper extremity scores were significant factors for independently predicting functional outcomes after robot-assisted therapy. Linear regression analysis revealed that the initial Mini-Mental State Examination (P < 0.001) and initial manual function test (P < 0.001) scores were significant predictors of the primary outcomes. In conclusion, our study suggests that stroke patients presenting with less spasticity, better initial cognitive function, and better initial motor function have a significant correlation with the functional outcomes after robot-assisted therapy.

In-Hospital and Post-Discharge Recovery after Acute Ischemic Stroke: a Nationwide Multicenter Stroke Registry-base Study

BACKGROUND

Using data from a large national stroke registry, we aimed to investigate the incidence and determinants of in-hospital and post-discharge recovery after acute ischemic stroke and the independence of their occurrence.

METHODS

In-hospital recovery was defined as an improvement of 4 points or > 40% in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score from admission to discharge. Post-discharge recovery was defined as any improvement in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score from discharge to 3 months after stroke onset. Two analytic methods (multivariate and multivariable logistic regression) were applied to compare the effects of 18 known determinants of 3-month outcome and to verify whether in-hospital and post-discharge recovery occur independently.

RESULTS

During 54 months, 11,088 patients with acute ischemic stroke meeting the eligibility criteria were identified. In-hospital and post-discharge recovery occurred in 36% and 33% of patients, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression with an equality test for odds ratios showed that 7 determinants (age, onset-to-admission time, NIHSS score at admission, blood glucose at admission, systolic blood pressure, smoking, recanalization therapy) had a differential effect on in-hospital and post-discharge recovery in the way of the opposite direction or of the same direction with different degree (all P values < 0.05). Both in-hospital and post-discharge recovery occurred in 12% of the study population and neither of them in 43%. The incidence of post-discharge recovery in those with in-hospital recovery was similar to that in those without (33.8% vs. 32.7%, respectively), but multivariable analysis showed that these 2 types of recovery occurred independently.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that, in patients with acute ischemic stroke, in-hospital and post-discharge recovery may occur independently and largely in response to different factors.

Correlation between changes of contralesional cortical activity and motor function recovery in patients with hemiparetic stroke

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between changes of contralesional cortical excitability evaluated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional recovery in patients with hemiparetic stroke.

METHODS

Eight inpatients (mean age: 75.9±13.8 years) with mild to moderate hemiparesis were enrolled. TMS was delivered to the optimal scalp position over the contralesional (ipsilateral to the paresis) primary motor cortex (M1) to activate the unaffected flexor carpi radialis muscle (FCR) while the patient picked up a wooden block with the affected hand. The amplitude of the motor-evoked potential (MEP) was measured and then was divided by the resting MEP amplitude (MEP ratio). For evaluation of motor function, we tested grip strength (GS), performed the upper extremity motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE), and performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) when the patients were admitted to our hospital (T1) and 2 months after admission (T2).

RESULTS

The MEP ratio was significantly decreased at the second examination. The partial correlations between the MEP ratio and FMA-UE at T1, and PPT of an affected hand at T2 were observed while controlling for the period after stroke onset as the confounding variable.

CONCLUSION

The reduction of contralesional cortical hyperactivity is related to the functional recovery in part, but not related with the period after stroke onset. This suggests that enhanced reduction of contralesional M1 hyperactivity contributes to functional recovery after stroke.

A single group, pretest-posttest clinical trial for the effects of dry needling on wrist flexors spasticity after stroke

BACKGROUND

Spasticity is a common complication after stroke. Dry needling (DN) is suggested as a novel method for treatment of muscle spasticity.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of DN on wrist flexors spasticity poststroke.

METHODS

A single group, pretest-posttest clinical trial was used. Twenty nine patients with stroke (16 male; mean age 54.3 years) were tested at baseline (T0), immediately after DN (T1), and one hour after DN (T2). DN was applied for flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and flexor carpi ulnaris on the affected arm for single session, one minute per muscle. The Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), passive resistance force, wrist active and passive range of motion, Box and Block Test, and FCR H-reflex were outcome measures.

RESULTS

Significant reductions in MMAS scores were seen both immediately after DN and at 1-hour follow-up (median 2 at T0 to 1 at T1 and T2). There were significant improvements in other measures between the baseline values at T0 and those recorded immediately after the DN at T1 or one hour later at T2.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that DN reduced wrist flexors spasticity and alpha motor neuron excitability in patients with stroke, and improvements persisted for one hour after DN.

Predictors of motor, daily function, and quality-of-life improvements after upper-extremity robot-assisted rehabilitation in stroke

OBJECTIVE

A subgroup of patients benefiting most from robot-assisted therapy (RT) has not yet been described. We examined the predictors of improved outcomes after RT.

METHOD

Sixty-six patients with stroke receiving RT were analyzed. The outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), Motor Activity Log (MAL), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). The potential predictors were age, side of lesion, time since onset, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores, accelerometer data, Box and Block Test (BBT) scores, and kinematic parameters.

RESULTS

BBT scores were predictive of FMA (29%) and MAL (9%-15%) improvements. Reduced shoulder flexion synergy, as measured by less shoulder abduction during forward reach, and MAS-distal were predictive of WMFT-function improvements. MAS-distal was predictive of SIS-physical improvements. Demographic variables did not predict outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Manual dexterity was a valuable predictor of motor impairment and daily function after RT. Outcomes at different levels may have different predictors.

Comparison of functional electrical stimulation associated with kinesiotherapy and kinesiotherapy alone in patients with hemiparesis during the subacute phase of ischemic cerebrovascular accident

OBJECTIVE

To compare the functional electrical stimulation associated with functional kinesiotherapy alone in patients after ischemic cerebrovascular accident.

METHODS

The study included 20 patients who were divided into two groups: Group I (GI): functional electrical stimulation plus functional kinesiotherapy and Group II (GII): functional kinesiotherapy. We evaluated active and passive range of motion, in knee flexion and extension muscle strength, activities of daily living and quality of life. The evaluations were conducted in the pretreatment period, after 10 sessions and after 20 physical therapy sessions.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in all variables studied for both groups. However, significant improvements for the sub-items functional capacity and social aspects were seen only in the patients treated with associated functional electrical stimulation and kinesiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Although both groups of patients improved with the treatment, the association of functional electrical stimulation and kinesiotherapy showed superiority in two quality of life items, in the sub-items functional capacity and social aspects.

The effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on spasticity and motor function of the affected arm in patients with chronic stroke

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in a real-world clinical setting on spasticity and functional use of the affected arm and hand in patients with spastic chronic hemiplegia.

METHOD

A prospective consecutive quasi-experimental study design was used. Twenty patients with spastic hemiplegia (aged 22-67 years) were tested before and after 2-week modified CIMT in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic and at 6 months. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), active range of motion (AROM), grip strength, Motor Activity Log (MAL), Sollerman hand function test, and Box and Block Test (BBT) were used as outcome measures.

RESULTS

Reductions (p<0.05-0.001) in spasticity (MAS) were seen both after the 2-week training period and at 6-month follow-up. Improvements were also seen in AROM (median change of elbow extension 5°, dorsiflexion of hand 10°), grip strength (20 Newton), and functional use after the 2-week training period (MAL: 1 point; Sollerman test: 8 points; BBT: 4 blocks). The improvements persisted at 6-month follow-up, except for scores on the Sollerman hand function test, which improved further.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that modified CIMT in an outpatient clinic may reduce spasticity and increase functional use of the affected arm in spastic chronic hemiplegia, with improvements persisting at 6 months.

The influence of two rehabilitation protocols in upper-limb function of stroke patients

Aims

A significant decrease in upper-limb functionality occurs after stroke. There are two different approaches to the upper-limb rehabilitation of stroke patients: unilateral and bilateral protocols. The main aim of this study was to assess the differences in the functionality of the hemiparetic upper-limb between individuals with chronic hemiparesis submitted to a unilateral protocol and those submitted to a bilateral protocol.

Methods

Eight individuals with stroke and chronic hemiparesis were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups (four participants in each group). All participants were observed over a period of six weeks, and were evaluated at four different moments of the intervention protocol using the Fulg-Meyer Assessment Scale (FM) (Fulg-Meyer et al, 1975) and the Purdue Pegboard (PP) (Tiffin, 1948). The statistical procedures included percentage evolution and descriptive analysis for each participant.

Findings

The findings suggest that the unilateral protocol provides better results, when compared with the bilateral protocol.

Conclusions

This study suggests that unilateral protocols are at least as effective as bilateral protocols for hemiparetic upper-limb rehabilitation.

Predicting recovery of dextrous hand function in acute stroke

PURPOSE

To determine the clinical characteristics during acute stroke that predicted dextrous function in the paretic hand at 6 months post-stroke.

METHOD

Fifty-seven patients within 5 days post-stroke were recruited in stroke wards. Recovery of dextrous hand function, indicated by a score of > or =35 of Action Research Arm Test, was assessed weekly in the first 4 weeks then monthly till 6 months post-stroke. The seven predictor candidates evaluated included side and site of brain infarct, stroke severity, cognition, spatial neglect, two-point discrimination (2-PD), muscle tone and muscle strength of the paretic upper extremity (UE).

RESULTS

Site of infarct, stroke severity, 2-PD and UE muscle strength had independent association with dextrous hand function at 6 months post-stroke. Stepwise multiple logistic regressions showed that the best early predictor was 2-PD in week 1 to 3 (Odds ratio [OR] ranged from 0.51-0.83) and UE muscle strength during the first 2 months post-stroke (OR > or = 1.04). The strongest predictor was muscle strength at week 4 post-stroke, followed by combined 2-PD and muscle strength at week 2 post-stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle strength and 2-PD in the paretic UE during the first month post-stroke were the best predictors of dextrous hand function recovery at 6 months.

Pediatric stroke recovery: a descriptive analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate recovery patterns and potential prognostic factors of pediatric stroke.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Acute rehabilitation at a university-based children's hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Children (N=44; 25 boys, 19 girls; age range, 8mo-17y) with diagnosis of first-ever stroke.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Functional outcomes at discharge and 1-year follow-up. Modified Brunnstrom stages, Gross Motor Function Classification System, activities of daily living (ADLs), swallowing, speech, and sphincter function were measured.

RESULTS

Recovery of swallowing function occurred earlier than other functions in the first 2 to 3 months poststroke. Less than half of the patients were able to use the affected arms and legs without assistive devices. Eleven of 32 patients who initially had poor body control became ambulatory without assistive devices. A total of 18 of 44 patients were able to walk without assistive devices. Bilateral hemisphere lesions and flaccid muscle tone of the affected extremity at stroke onset had a less favorable prognosis in terms of ambulation and ADLs. Hemorrhagic strokes without surgical complications had a better prognosis than nonhemorrhagic strokes.

CONCLUSIONS

Similar to the adult stroke population, most of the functional recovery in pediatric stroke occurs within the first 2 to 3 months after stroke, but the quality of functional recovery was better in the pediatric population. The lesion size of the stroke was found to be related to prognosis. Additional large cohort studies are suggested to understand the complex similarities and differences in recovery between pediatric and adult stroke.

Gait reveals bilateral adaptation of motor control in patients with chronic unilateral stroke

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Functional brain imaging has shown that bilateral brain reorganization may occur after unilateral cerebral damage. The present study searched for evidence of bilateral motor control changes in gait in patients with chronic unilateral stroke.

METHODS

Gait variables (temporal and spatial parameters, footprint peak times (FPPT) and footfall times (FFT)) were recorded in 48 patients with chronic unilateral stroke at their preferred speed, and in 10 healthy volunteers walking from very slowly to very fast on a pressure sensor walkway. The data were divided into 4 groups according to gait velocity. The functional outcome of stroke was measured by the Barthel Index.

RESULTS

Patients' gait variables reflected their hemiparetic gait pattern. Slower patients had prolonged stance, FPPT and FFT on the non-affected side (NS), and prolonged swing and shorter FPPT and FFT on the affected side (AS). The magnitude of the asymmetry index of these parameters was inversely associated with velocity performance and, at the same time, it characterized how much the control of the clinically healthy (NS) side was altered during walking. Bilateral changes in kinetic and footfall variables in the chronic stage of unilateral stroke were present.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients chose their preferred walking velocity using stereotyped, alternative gait patterns, in which the contribution of the NS was larger than that of the AS. Alternative gait patterns may partly demonstrate compensatory behavioral strategies adapted by patients.

Intrathecal Baclofen Management of Poststroke Spastic Hypertonia: Implications for Function and Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) on function and quality of life (QOL) and to obtain efficacy and safety data in poststroke spastic hypertonia.

DESIGN

Prospective open-label multicenter trial with follow-up at 3 and 12 months.

SETTING

Twenty-four stroke treatment centers in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-four stroke participants (age range, 24-82 y) with spastic hypertonia. Seventy-four participants underwent ITB pump implantation.

INTERVENTION

Participants were implanted with an ITB pump.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

FIM instrument and QOL (Sickness Impact Profile [SIP]) changes, spastic hypertonia (Ashworth Scale), and safety.

RESULTS

FIM scores improved overall in repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P = .005) and by 3.00 +/- 7.69 (P = .001) at 3 months and by 2.86 +/- 10.13 (P = .017) at 12 months. Significant improvements in SIP scores were noted overall (repeated-measures ANOVA, P < .001) and at 3 (P = .003) and 12 months (P < .001). The combined average Ashworth Scale score of the upper and lower limbs decreased by 1.27 +/- 0.76 (P < .001) at 3 months and by 1.39 +/- 0.73 (P < .001) at 12 months from baseline, which was significant overall (repeated-measures ANOVA, P<.001). Strength in the unaffected side did not change overall (repeated-measures ANOVA, P = .321) or at either 3 (P = .553) or 12 months (P = .462). Minimal adverse events and device complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

There was significant improvement in function, QOL, and spastic hypertonia at 3 and 12 months after implant, without adversely affecting muscle strength of the unaffected limbs. Data suggest that ITB therapy is a safe and efficacious treatment for spastic hypertonia resulting from stroke.