Article

OBJECTIVE: To quantify uni- and bimanual upper-limb use in patients with chronic
stroke in daily life compared with healthy controls.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional
observational study. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS:
Patients with chronic stroke (n=38) and healthy controls (n=18). INTERVENTION:
Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Upper-limb use in daily life was measured
with an accelerometry-based upper-limb activity monitor, an accelerometer based
measurement device. Unimanual use of the paretic and the nonparetic side and
bimanual upper-limb use were measured for a period of 24 hours. Outcomes were
expressed in terms of both duration and intensity. RESULTS: Patients used their
unaffected limb much more than their affected limb (5.3h vs 2.4h), while controls
used both limbs a more equal amount of time (5.4h vs 5.1h). Patients used their
paretic side less than controls used their nondominant side and their nonparetic
side more than controls their dominant side. The intensity with which patients
used their paretic side was lower than that with which controls used their
nondominant side, while that of the nonparetic side was higher than that of the
dominant side of controls. Finally, patients used their paretic side almost
exclusively in bimanual activities. During bimanual activities, the intensity
with which they used their affected side was much lower than that of the
nonaffected side. CONCLUSION: Our data show considerable nonuse of the paretic
side, both in duration and in intensity, and both during unimanual and bimanual
activities in patients with chronic stroke. Patients do compensate for this with
increased use of the nonparetic side.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS