Sensory deficits in the unaffected hand of hemiparetic stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sensory function in the unaffected hand of unilateral stroke patients.


BACKGROUND
Ipsilateral motor deficits have been described in stroke patients, but sensory function has usually been reported to be normal in the unaffected limbs.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients (19 males, 6 females, 58.24+/-11.11 y old) with first-ever stroke, in the chronic phase (mean interval after stroke: 43.8+/-55.4 mo), who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 25 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects (19 males, 6 females, 58.60+/-11.32 y old) participated in the study. Ipsilateral hand sensory function was assessed with a Moving Touch-Pressure test; motor performance was evaluated by the Box and Block test and grip strength. The examiner was not blinded to the subject's neurologic status.


RESULTS
Stroke patients had a mean Moving Touch-Pressure score of 79.77%+/-10.74% whereas the control group had a mean score of 89.10%+/-8.09% (P<0.01). Mean Box and Block scores were 58.4+/-8.27 and 68.08+/-8.98, respectively (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to motor dysfunction, decreased sensitivity to moving tactile stimuli may contribute to clumsiness of the unaffected arm of unilateral stroke patients.
Brasil-Neto
Joaquim P
JP
Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. jbrasil@unb.br
de Lima
Angela Cristina
AC
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011312:Pressure; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*