Bilateral Versus Unilateral Upper Extremity Training on Upper Limb Motor Activity in Hemiplegia

Abstract

Background: Upper extremity paresis post stroke is an important contributor to disability and task oriented rehabilitation aims at compensating loss of function in the affected upper extremity. Bilateral arm training focuses on coupling both the extremities during treatment to gain symmetrical and synchronous movement in both the limbs. Objective: To analyze the efficacy of bilateral arm training over unilateral training in improving upper limb functional tasks of subjects with hemiplegia. Methods: 30 hemiplegic subjects were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups where the former performed three sets of exercises using both the upper extremities while those in the latter group performed same exercises using only the affected extremity. Motor Activity Log (MAL) was used to quantify the treatment outcome. Results: Pre-post comparison within groups showed significant improvement in AOU (amount of usage) and QOM (quality of movement ) components of MAL (p<0.001) in both experimental and control groups, whereas only AOU showed significant difference between the groups (p<0.05 ). Conclusion: Bilateral arm training improved functional tasks better than unilateral arm training in subjects with hemiplegia.