Conclusion :  Objective muscle strength assessment  can be reliably used in lower and upper extremities in post-stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis
Background : Muscle weakness is the main cause of motor impairment among stroke survivors and is associated with reduced peak muscle torque .
Objective : To systematic ally investigate and organize the evidence of the reliability of muscle strength evaluation measures in post-stroke survivors with chronic hemiparesis .
Muscle strength of trunk flexion-extension in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.
This study was undertaken to determine muscle strength of trunk flexion-extension in hemiplegic patients after stroke compared with that of normal controls . The design consisted of a nonr and omized control trial in a secondary care setting ( a rehabilitation unit at a hospital facility ) . The subjects included 25 post-stroke male hemiplegic patients and 25 male healthy controls . The maximal peak torques of trunk flexion-extension  at angular velocities of 0 degrees ( isometric contraction ) , 60 degrees , 120 degrees , and 150 degrees/s were measured by using an isokinetic dynamometer ( Cybex Trunk Extension-Flexion Unit , Cybex , Ronkonkoma , NY ) . Peak torque of trunk flexion and extension in hemiplegic patients was significantly smaller than that of healthy controls ( P < 0.05 ) , except isometric trunk flexion ( P > 0.05 ) . The weakness of trunk flexion-extension muscles in hemiplegic patients might be accounted for by the bilateral innervation from the motor cortex , the insufficient use of high threshold motor units , and disuse atrophy
Conclusion :  Objective muscle strength assessment  can be reliably used in lower and upper extremities in post-stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis
Background : Muscle weakness is the main cause of motor impairment among stroke survivors and is associated with reduced peak muscle torque .
Objective : To systematic ally investigate and organize the evidence of the reliability of muscle strength evaluation measures in post-stroke survivors with chronic hemiparesis .