Evaluation of the motor recovery process in stroke patients using a laterality index based on the paretic and non-paretic upper limbs' actigraphic activity

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to monitor the motor recovery process of stroke patients using a laterality index between the paretic and non-paretic upper limb actigraphic activities. [Subjects and Methods] Sixteen stroke patients wore an Actiwatch® accelerometer on both wrists for 24 hours. The motor activity was recorded at four different time points: approximately 15 days, 33 days, 61 days and 91 days after the onset of stroke. [Results] An increase in motor activity was found on both sides during the course of the recovery process. The laterality index also increased, suggesting an improvement in the paretic side. In patients who showed little improvement on the paretic side, the activity increased on both sides, but the laterality index remained almost constant. Moreover, a signifi cant positive correlation was found between the laterality index and the Brunnstrom stage (arm; rs=0.83, hand; rs =0.82). [Conclusions] Our results suggest that the laterality index of actigraphic activity is useful for assessing real improvement of the paretic side.