title: Transfer of training between distinct motor tasks after stroke: implications for task-specific approaches to upper-extremity neurorehabilitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although task-specific training is emerging as a viable approach for recovering motor function after stroke, there is little evidence for whether the effects of such training transfer to other functional motor tasks not directly practiced in therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study was to test whether training on one motor task in individuals with chronic hemiparesis poststroke would transfer to untrained tasks that were either spatiotemporally similar or different.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 11 participants with chronic mild to moderate hemiparesis following stroke completed 5 days of supervised massed practice of a feeding task with their affected side. Performance on the feeding task, along with 2 other untrained functional upper-extremity motor tasks (sorting, dressing) was assessed before and after training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance of all 3 tasks improved significantly after training exclusively on 1 motor task. The amount of improvement in the untrained tasks was comparable and was not dependent on the degree of similarity to the trained task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because the number and type of tasks that can be practiced are often limited within standard stroke rehabilitation, results from this study will be useful for designing task-specific training plans to maximize therapy benefits.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108, USA. syschaefer@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sydney Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Chavelle B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: motor learning; physical therapy; stroke rehabilitation; task-specific training; transfer; upper extremity
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