The most important predictive factors for upper limb recovery following stroke appears to the initial severity of motor impairment or function
Objective : To systematic ally review and summarize the current available literature on prognostic variables relating to upper limb recovery following stroke .
To identify which , if any variables predict upper limb recovery following stroke .
Arm and leg paresis as outcome predictors in stroke rehabilitation.
I used leg and arm paresis to predict outcome measured as extremity function in a prospect i ve study of 75 consecutive hemiplegic patients admitted to an inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit . In each patient , extremity paresis was quantified according to the five-point scoring system advised by the Medical Research Council , upper extremity function was quantified using the Barthel Index subscore for feeding and dressing the upper body , and lower extremity function was quantified according to a five-point scoring of the ability to walk . Improvement was recorded for upper extremity function in 52 % of the patients and for lower extremity function in 89 % . Best extremity function was reached a mean + /- SEM of 9 + /- 3 and 10 + /- 4 weeks after stroke for the upper and lower extremities , respectively . In patients experiencing complete recovery , this occurred a mean + /- SEM of 7 + /- 2 weeks ( for both upper and lower extremities ) after the stroke . Only 8 - 11 % of the patients with paresis scores of less than or equal to 2 regained independent extremity function after rehabilitation . Half of the patients with paresis scores of greater than or equal to 3 regained independent extremity function after rehabilitation , while the other half were able to perform extremity function with only minimal assistance . As predictors of extremity function , the Barthel Index subscore was slightly better ( r = 0.64 ) than paresis score ( r = 0.58 ) . However , because evaluation of extremity paresis is easy , it appears to be useful as a preliminary predictor of outcome following stroke
The most important predictive factors for upper limb recovery following stroke appears to the initial severity of motor impairment or function
Objective : To systematic ally review and summarize the current available literature on prognostic variables relating to upper limb recovery following stroke .
To identify which , if any variables predict upper limb recovery following stroke .