title: Predicting recovery of bilateral upper extremity muscle strength after stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the recovery pattern of bilateral upper extremity muscle strength and to predict the recovery of strength early after stroke using a logarithmic regression model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one inpatients with post-stroke hemiparesis were enrolled. The mean time after stroke event was 7.1 days (standard deviation (SD) 3.5 days).
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral elbow flexion and extension strengths were assessed separately with a hand-held dynamometer.Grip strength was also assessed with a Jamar dynamometer.These measurements were carried out on 4 occasions: baseline assessment within 2 weeks following stroke onset, and at weeks 1, 2 and 3 following baseline evaluation. Recovery off lexion and extension strengths was predicted using a logarithmic model using scores at the initial 2 evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time course of recovery for bilateral upper extremities resembled a logarithmic function. Moreover, on the basis of a logarithmic regression model, baseline measures of bilateral strengths sampled from 2 time-points during recovery could be applied to predict the pattern of recovery accurately during the subacute stroke phase (R(2) = 0.74–0.95,p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upper extremity muscle strength improved significantly in a similar pattern on the sides contralateral and ipsilateral to the brain lesion. Moreover, a logarithmic regression model accurately predicted both measures.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Omori
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugimura
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugimura
authors.forename: Hikari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirimoto
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*