Tracking control in the nonparetic hand of subjects with stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To examine in subjects with stroke using their nonparetic side how different levels of stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility, which require different levels of information processing, affect manual tracking control.


METHODS
Descriptive study comparing finger movement tracking performance under S-R-compatible and S-R-incompatible conditions between subjects with stroke and healthy controls. Four two-factor analysis of variance tests with one independent factor (group, gender, laterality, or order) and one repeated measures factor (position) comprised the data analysis.


METHODS
University-based research setting.


METHODS
Forty subjects with chronic stroke: 20 right hemiplegia (average age, 65.2+/-2.3 yrs); 20 left hemiplegia (average age, 68.6+/-2.3 yrs). Fifty-one healthy controls: 24 using nondominant hand (average age, 68.6+/-2.1 yrs); 27 using dominant hand (average age, 68.7+/-2.0 yrs). All were right-handed.


METHODS
Tracking accuracy index (AI), based on root-mean-square error normalized to scale of each subject's tracking target.


RESULTS
In S-R-incompatible condition, AI of subjects with stroke was not significantly different from controls (F[1, 89]=1.73, p=.19). In S-R-compatible condition, AI of control subjects was significantly better than subjects with stroke (F[1, 89]=14.3, p=.0003).


CONCLUSIONS
Manual tracking is impaired in nonparetic hand of subjects with stroke, suggesting that information processing, distinctly separate from motor weakness, may be an underestimated problem impairing controlled movements in individuals with stroke.
Carey
J R
JR
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Baxter
T L
TL
Di Fabio
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*