Influence of the Passive Stabilization of the Trunk and Upper Limb on Selected Parameters of the Hand Motor Coordination, Grip Strength and Muscle Tension, in Post-Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of the influence of a stable trunk and the affected upper limb (dominant or non-dominant) on the parameters of the wrist and hand motor coordination, grip strength and muscle tension in patients in the subacute post-stroke stage compared to healthy subjects.

DESIGN

An observational study.

SETTING

Stroke Rehabilitation Department.

SUBJECTS

Thirty-four subjects after ischemic cerebral stroke and control group-32 subjects without neurological deficits, age and body mass/ height matched were included.

MAIN MEASURES

The tone of the multifidus, transverse abdominal and supraspinatus muscles were assessed by Luna EMG device. A HandTutor device were used to measure motor coordination parameters (e.g., range of movement, frequency of movement), and a manual dynamometer for measuring the strength of a hand grip. Subjects were examined in two positions: sitting without back support (non-stabilized) and lying with stabilization of the trunk and the upper limb.

RESULTS

Passive stabilization of the trunk and the upper extremity caused a significant improvement in motor coordination of the fingers ( ˂ 0.001) and the wrist ( < 0.001) in patients after stroke. Improved motor coordination of the upper extremity was associated with an increased tone of the supraspinatus muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

Passive stabilization of the trunk and the upper limb improved the hand and wrist coordination in patients following a stroke. Placing patients in a supine position with the stability of the affected upper limb during rehabilitation exercises may help them to access latent movement patterns lost due to neurological impairment after a stroke.