title: Motor variables correlated with the hand-to-mouth maneuver in stroke patients.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between each of three independent variables and the completion of the hand-to-mouth maneuver in 23 hemiparetic stroke patients. The independent variables were elbow-extensor muscle tone (graded using the Modified Ashworth Scale); active elbow-flexion range-of-motion deficit measured without the influence of gravity; and elbow-flexion strength measured without the influence of gravity with a hand-held dynamometer. The hand-to-mouth maneuver was graded according to the degree of completion using a three-level ordinal scale. Spearman (rs) correlations demonstrated a significant relationship between the extent of completion of the hand-to-mouth maneuver and both the active elbow-flexion-range deficit (rs = -.853) and the elbow-flexor muscle force (rs = .829). The correlation of the maneuver with elbow-extensor muscle tone (rs = -.063) was not significant, but the relationship may have been influenced by the fact that only a minority of subjects had elevated tone, and that elevation was minimal. The result suggest that both active-movement deficits and muscle strength may be important to upper extremity function.
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bohannon
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cogman
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009129:Muscle Tonus