Article

Most chronic stroke patients present with difficulty in the manipulation of
objects. The aim of this study was to test whether an intensive program of
precision grip training could improve hand functioning of patients at more than 6
months after a stroke. This was a cross-over study; hence, at inclusion, the
patients were randomly divided into two groups: one group started with the
bilateral movement therapy and the other group started with the unilateral
movement therapy. The patients were assessed on four separate occasions across a
12-week period: (a) at inclusion in the study, (b) 4 weeks later, immediately
before the first rehabilitation session, (c) after 4 weeks of one therapy, and
(d) after a further 4 weeks of the other therapy. Ten patients completed two
consecutive 4-week sessions
(1 h, 3 days/week) of therapy. The therapy comprised
unilateral and bilateral repetitive grip-lift task-oriented rehabilitation with
rhythmic auditory cueing.
The grip-lift force coordination, digital dexterity,
manual ability, and the level of satisfaction (with activities and participation)
were assessed. A one-way repeated-measure analysis of variance across the four
evaluations did not detect any objective improvement in the measured variables
after 8 weeks of specific intensive training. Precision grip training was shown
to not generate significant improvement in the grip-lift task, digital dexterity,
manual ability, or satisfaction in chronic stroke patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS