Differences in motor recovery between upper and lower limbs: does stroke subtype make the difference?

Previous studies comparing the patterns of recovery for upper (UL) and lower limbs (LL) reported similar patterns of motor recovery of extremities. However, the influence of clinical stroke subtypes on the difference between recovery of extremities has never been investigated. The aim of this study is to compare the time course of the UL and LL in a sample of patients who have had distinct subtypes of ischemic stroke. A total of 443 consecutive patients following ischemic stroke were assessed at admission, discharge, and 1 month after discharge with the arm and leg motor parts of the Fugl-Meyer scale. Separate analyses were carried out for the entire sample and for samples of each stroke subtype classified according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project. All groups showed significant improvements in motor function (P<0.001). Within the group of patients with total anterior circulation infarcts, the LL showed greater improved motor recovery than the UL (P<0.001). No significant difference was found between the time course of UL and LL motor recovery in the entire sample and in the other groups. This study confirms similar motor recovery of limbs in the entire sample, but also shows that the LL has greater recovery than the UL in patients with total anterior circulation infarcts. Functional prognosis should take into account the distinct stroke subtypes.

Total hip arthroplasty after hip fracture or osteoarthritis: are there differences in characteristics and outcomes in the early rehabilitative stage?

BACKGROUND: Despite some practitioner perception of an inferior outcome in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA) following hip fracture (HF) vs. osteoarthritis (OA), few studies have analyzed this issue. PURPOSE: This cohort study compares characteristics and short-term outcomes in patients with THA following HF and OA during the rehabilitative postsurgical period. METHODS: Records of all consecutive patients admitted in a rehabilitation department of a city hospital for THA, following HF or OA, were reviewed. Outcome measures were the Barthel Index, passive range of motion (PROM) for hip flexion and abduction, and length of hospitalization in the rehabilitation department. Participants were assessed at admission to department and at discharge. RESULTS: Five hundred seven patients were included (353 in the OA group). The HF group had a longer length of rehabilitation hospital stay and more comorbidity, whereas the OA group had higher functional performances at admission. Both groups improved in all clinical outcome measures with less improvement in PROM abduction scores in the OA group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing traumatic and elective surgery have distinctive clinical characteristics. Results support the idea that OA patient can have a reduced PROM when compared with HF patients.

Recovery from stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognized as an important risk factor for stroke and might theoretically influence post-stroke level of disability, increasing the extension of the cerebral injured area. However, results of the few researches aimed at studying this influence are contradictory; moreover, the effect of DM on motor recovery has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DM on both functional and motor recovery. METHODS: A total of 395 acute patients with first stroke were selected in a rehabilitation department and divided into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of DM (DM+ and DM-, respectively). Outcome measures were the Barthel Index, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale, and the mobility part of the motor assessment chart according to Lindmark and Hamrin. Participants were assessed at admission to department (T1, 13.9+/-7.9 days from stroke onset), at discharge (T2, 40.1+/-13.4), and at follow-up (T3, 84.2+/-14.3). A 2 x 3 analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed to verify the effect of group and of phase of assessment on motor and functional measures and their interaction. RESULTS: DM+ and DM- groups included 93 and 302 patients, respectively. Both groups showed a significant and progressive improvement in all outcome measures (P<.001), but no interaction was found between group and phase of assessment, which means that motor and functional recovery was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that diabetes has no influence on motor and functional outcome within the acute and post-acute phase after stroke. Further research should investigate motor recovery in a longer-term period and with larger samples.

Scale for contraversive pushing: cutoff scores for diagnosing "pusher behavior" and construct validity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Considerable disagreement exists among researchers with regard to the prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment of "pusher behavior" (PB), partly because of different testing procedures. This study was primarily aimed at establishing cutoff scores for and the construct validity of the Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP). The prevalence of PB in people with right- and left-brain lesions also was investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 105 consecutive patients with recent stroke. Two methods were used to diagnose PB: clinical examination and SCP score with 3 different cutoff points--an SCP total score of greater than 0 (Crit_1), subscores in each section of the scale of greater than 0 (Crit_2), and subscores in each section of the scale of > or =1 (Crit_3). Clinical and SCP diagnoses were independently made by different examiners. The Cohen kappa coefficient was used to determine the agreement between clinical and SCP diagnoses. The construct validity of the SCP was estimated by calculation of Spearman rank correlation coefficients for SCP and balance, mobility, and functional scores. RESULTS: The agreement between clinical and SCP diagnoses was low (kappa=.212) when Crit_1 was used. Crit_2 led to the highest agreement with the clinical diagnosis (kappa=.933). However, only Crit_3, although globally less accurate (kappa=.754), ensured no false-positive results. The construct validity of the SCP was demonstrated by significant (P<.001) moderate to high correlations with mobility (rho=.595), functional (rho=.632), and balance (rho=.666) scores. The prevalence of PB was not influenced by the side of the lesion. A limitation of the study was that the reliability of the clinical examination method was not investigated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results support the validity of the SCP and suggest the need to choose different SCP cutoff criteria (Crit_2 or Crit_3) according to the aim of the evaluation.

Shoulder subluxation after stroke: relationships with pain and motor recovery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) is a frequent complication in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, but its role in functional recovery is still unclear. The aim of the present investigation was to understand the relationship of GHS with shoulder pain and arm motor recovery. METHOD: A case-control study design was used. A sample of 107 hemiplegic adults with recent stroke (less than 30 days from onset) was differentiated into two groups according to the presence of GHS. Motor recovery was assessed using the upper extremity part of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale and the presence of shoulder pain was recorded at admission (T1), at discharge (T2) and at follow-up, 30-40 days after discharge (T3). RESULTS: GHS was present in 52 patients (48.6%) and correlated significantly to shoulder pain at TI, at T2 and at T3 (p < 0.001). Moreover, GHS at admission accounted for nearly 50% of shoulder pain at T3 (adjusted R2 = 0.458; p < 0.001). The presence of GHS was independently associated with the upper extremity score of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale at follow-up (adjusted R2 = 0.766; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GHS is a factor associated with shoulder pain development and with arm motor recovery and should be treated in the acute stage of hemiplegia.

Glenohumeral subluxation in hemiplegia: An overview.

This review summarizes the recent advances in glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) in hemiplegic patients and analyzes the reliability and validity of clinical evaluation and the effectiveness of different treatment approaches. GHS, a common complication of stroke, can be considered an important risk factor for shoulder pain and other problems. GHS is a complex phenomenon, and its pathomechanics are not yet fully understood. Radiographic measurements are considered the best method of quantifying GHS. Clinical evaluation can be useful as screening assessment. Functional electrical stimulation and strapping are effective in an acute stage of hemiplegia; some types of slings have been shown to be effective and may be used together with other strategies.

Motor and functional recovery in patients with post-stroke depression.

PURPOSE: Depression is very common following stroke. Correlation between post-stroke depression (PSD) and functional outcome has been shown, but differential impact both on functional and motor recovery has not been deeply investigated. This study evaluates the influence of PSD on motor and functional outcome. METHOD: One hundred and seventeen acute stroke patients were selected in an intensive rehabilitation department, and divided into two groups according to the presence of PSD (PSD+ and PSD-). Screening measures were DSM-IV criteria, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Cornell Scale. Outcomes were evaluated on the basis of the Barthel Index (BI) and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA). Measurements were performed at admission to the department T1), discharge (T2) and follow up (T3) in a whole period of 3 months from stroke. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant improvement in all outcome measures. Improvement differences were not significant on FMA scores in either group at each assessment; the PSD group had a significant higher improvement on BI score at follow-up. According to the logistic model, from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3, only motor recovery shows a significant relation with functional recovery; from T2 to T3 PSD is the only significant factor related to functional recovery. CONCLUSIONS: PSD is not an influencing factor for motor recovery. Results show a negative impact of PSD on the functional recovery process after discharge and not during hospitalisation. Discharge appears to be critical step for management of PSD.

Physiotherapy for pusher behaviour in a patient with post-stroke hemiplegia.

OBJECTIVE: This case report describes a specific, literature-based physiotherapy treatment and the outcome for a stroke patient with pusher behaviour. Pusher behaviour is characterized by pushing strongly towards the hemiplegic side in all positions and resisting any attempt at passive correction of posture to bring the weight towards or over the midline of the body. METHODS: The patient was a 71-year-old man with clear pusher behaviour due to a stroke. Therapy for the pushing behaviour was performed over a 3-week period. Motor function, mobility, disability, tone anomalies and pusher behaviour were assessed before and after the study period. Immediate effects of a single training session were assessed by clinical observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Immediate effects on the pusher behaviour were observed when using visual and auditory feedback, but not when somatosensory input was used. These results were not maintained to the end of the treatment period. Treatment makes the patient able to use compensatory strategies for functional activities. The long-term effects should be investigated in more depth in the future.