title: Trunk muscles in persons with hemiparetic stroke evaluated with computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse side difference in bilateral trunk muscles in patients with hemiparetic stroke, to relate it with impairment and disability variables and to evaluate longitudinal changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a sample of 83 inpatients with hemiparetic stroke undergoing rehabilitation, we measured the cross-sectional area of the paravertebral muscle and thigh muscles using computed tomography at admission and discharge. Classifying them by paravertebral muscle side difference (group I: contralateral > ipsilateral; II: contralateral = ipsilateral; III: contralateral < ipsilateral) we analysed group difference in the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, the Functional Independence Measure and walk velocity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to thigh muscles, the paravertebral muscle cross-sectional area was significantly greater on the side contralateral to the brain lesion. Discharge paravertebral muscle cross-sectional area increased significantly from admission values. The Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, Functional Independence Measure and walk velocity were significantly lower in group I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contralateral paravertebral muscle cross-sectional area was larger than the ipsilateral ones, and this was related to the degree of impairment and functional limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. cxa01423@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Meigen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hase
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masakado
authors.forename: Naoichi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed