title: Standing position improves arm and hand performance on un-affected side in hemiplegic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to compare the hand and finger performance of stroke patients in standing and sitting positions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were 11 males and 3 females with history of stroke (age, 68.6 ± 6.3 years, mean ± SD). Inclusion criteria were right-handedness before stroke, right hemiparesis due to left hemisphere lesion induced by stroke, at least 4 months between stroke and study enrollment, and ability to stand for more than 10 minutes. Tests of dexterity (peg board test), attention, unilateral spatial neglect, and cognition were conducted in comfortable sitting and standing positions. Seven subjects started in standing position, and the other seven subjects were tested first in sitting position. Tests in the first position were performed on one day, and repeated one week later but performed in a different position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean performance time on the peg board test in standing position was significantly faster than in sitting position (p=0.022). However, the results of the Trail making test-part A, line cancellation test, line bisection and Mini Mental State conducted in standing position were similar to those of sitting position. There were no differences between the first and second trial tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that standing position improved the functional performance of hand and arm on the un-affected side in stroke patients, but had no effects on consistent attention, unilateral spatial neglect, or cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tojo
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizumoto
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tajima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006225:Hand; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010468:Perceptual Disorders; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome