Late motor recovery is influenced by muscle tone changes after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the time course of motor recovery in a poststroke period ranging from 2 to 6 months and its correlation with both the severity of motor deficit and the muscle tone disturbances (flaccidity or spasticity) of the affected limbs.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
A comprehensive rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
Forty consecutive stroke patients (21 men, 19 women) with first ischemic stroke who met the inclusion criteria.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Change in motor deficit as evaluated by the Adams Hemispheric Stroke Scale.


RESULTS
Stepwise regression analysis indicated that the most significant factors influencing motor recovery were the time elapsed since stroke and muscle tone.


CONCLUSIONS
Rehabilitation of stroke patients is more effective in the first months after the event rather than later, considering the significant correlation observed between motor recovery and time elapsed since stroke. Flaccid patients appear to need 3 months or more before reaching the final plateau, because motor recovery occurs later and/or proceeds more slowly, whereas outcomes for spastic patients with spasticity appears to occur in the first months after stroke.
Formisano
Rita
R
IRCCS Rehabilitation Hospital Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. r.formisano@hsantalucia.it
Pantano
Patrizia
P
Buzzi
M Gabriella
MG
Vinicola
Vincenzo
V
Penta
Francesca
F
Barbanti
Piero
P
Lenzi
Gian Luigi
GL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation