Affiliations: [a] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Ospedale S. Marta & S. Venera, Acireale, Catania, Italy | [b] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Ospedale S. Pietro, Caltagirone, Catania, Italy | [c] Departement of Neuroscience, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Francesco Patti, Department of Neuroscience, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, Catania, Italy.
Tel.: +39 095 3782620; Mobile: +39 338 6270548; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Background:Basic trunk movement control is often impaired after stroke and its recovery is a “miliary stone” in rehabilitation. Objective:In this prospective, observational, parallel-group study, we investigated whether there are differences in terms of post-stroke recovery of basic trunk control between patients with left or with right hemiparesis. Methods:We recruited 94 patients with loss of postural trunk control due to stroke. Patients were divided into Group A (48 patients with left hemiparesis) and Group B (46 patients with right hemiparesis). We administered the Trunk Control Test (TCT) and the 13 motor items included on the Functional Independence Measure. Evaluation was performed at admission (To) and discharge (T1). Results:TCT increased respectively from 46.7 ± 23.3 to 62.6 ± 19.5 (mean ± standard deviation-SD, p < 0.0001) in Group A and from 49.4 ± 23.2 to 79.1 ± 14.4 (mean ± SD, p < 0.0001) in Group B. TCT resulted significantly higher in Group B than in Group A, at T1 (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found for motFIM at T1. Conclusion:Side of hemiparesis could affect the degree of recovery of basic trunk control after stroke. Patients with right hemiparesis benefit more than those with left hemiparesis. Improvement of basic trunk control was not responsible for an advantage on functional independence.
