Longitudinal optical imaging study for locomotor recovery after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate cerebral mechanisms underlying locomotor recovery after stroke.


METHODS
We measured cortical activities during hemiparetic gait on the treadmill before and after 2 months of inpatient rehabilitation in 8 patients with initial stroke (5 men, 3 women; 4 with right and 4 with left hemiparesis; aged 57 years; 3 months after stroke on average), using an optical imaging system.


RESULTS
On the initial evaluation, hemiparetic gait was associated with increased oxygenated hemoglobin levels in the medial primary sensorimotor cortex (SMC) that were greater in the unaffected hemisphere than in the affected hemisphere as well as in the premotor cortex (PMC) and supplementary motor area. On the second examination, the asymmetry in SMC activation significantly improved, and there was enhanced PMC activation in the affected hemisphere. Improvement of the asymmetrical SMC activation significantly correlated with improvement of gait parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Locomotor recovery after stroke may be associated with improvement of asymmetry in SMC activation and enhanced PMC activation in the affected hemisphere.
Miyai
Ichiro
I
Neurorehabilitation Research Institute, Bobath Memorial Hospital, Osaka 536-0023, Japan. webeo@ga2.so-net.ne.jp
Yagura
Hajime
H
Hatakenaka
Megumi
M
Oda
Ichiro
I
Konishi
Ichiro
I
Kubota
Kisou
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome