Exploring relations between functional task kinematics and clinical assessment of arm function and dexterity post-stroke

Abstract

After stroke, technology-supported treatment, enables more independent, self-administered exercises of the arm. Preferably, such treatment is applied in the home setting, to enable increase of treatment dosage. Although such interventions are effective to improve motor function of the affected arm, their influence on functional abilities is less understood. The present paper examines which motor control limitations are related to limitations in arm and hand function in stroke patients. A functional reach and grasp task has been performed by 14 chronic stroke patients, during which kinematic parameters were recorded, in addition to maximal grip strength. Also, clinical assessments of arm function and dexterity were done. Peak hand speed, elbow extension range, maximal hand opening and grip strength correlated strongly with clinically assessed sensorimotor arm function and dexterity in mildly to severely affected chronic stroke patients (ρ=0.66-0.85), whereas trunk displacement showed a weaker correlation (ρ=- 0.50). The present findings suggest that it may be valuable for treatment applications in neurorehabilitation for stroke to focus on at least movement speed and movement coordination for both the proximal and distal arm in order to stimulate functional improvements.