Influence of head-neck rotation on static elbow flexion force of paretic side in patients with hemiparesis.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of bead and neck (HN) position in the transverse plane on the static production of elbow flexion force in the involved (paretic) upper extremity of patients with hemiparesis. Thirty-one patients who had experienced a cerebrovascular accident a mean of 44 days before testing participated in the study. Static elbow flexion force was tested with a hand-held dynamometer, twice with the HN rotated toward the paretic side and twice with the HN rotated toward the nonparetic side. Elbow flexion force did not differ with the HN in the two positions (F = 0.008, p = 931). Results of this study support the conclusion that HN position in the transverse plane does not influence the production of static elbow flexion force on the paretic side in patients with stroke. Clinicians, therefore, may wish to reexamine any emphasis they place on HN position for facilitating elbow flexion force production on the paretic side of patients with hemiparesis.