title: Is the basic trunk control recovery different between stroke patients with right and left hemiparesis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basic trunk movement control is often impaired after stroke and its recovery is a "miliary stone" in rehabilitation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this prospective, observational, parallel-group study, we investigated whether there are differences in terms of post-stroke recovery of basic trunk control between patients with left or with right hemiparesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 94 patients with loss of postural trunk control due to stroke. Patients were divided into Group A (48 patients with left hemiparesis) and Group B (46 patients with right hemiparesis). We administered the Trunk Control Test (TCT) and the 13 motor items included on the Functional Independence Measure. Evaluation was performed at admission (To) and discharge (T1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCT increased respectively from 46.7 ± 23.3 to 62.6 ± 19.5 (mean ± standard deviation-SD, p < 0.0001) in Group A and from 49.4 ± 23.2 to 79.1 ± 14.4 (mean ± SD, p < 0.0001) in Group B. TCT resulted significantly higher in Group B than in Group A, at T1 (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found for motFIM at T1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Side of hemiparesis could affect the degree of recovery of basic trunk control after stroke. Patients with right hemiparesis benefit more than those with left hemiparesis. Improvement of basic trunk control was not responsible for an advantage on functional independence.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Ospedale S. Marta & S. Venera, Acireale, Catania, Italy Departement of Neuroscience, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pappalardo
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Ospedale S. Pietro, Caltagirone, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ciancio
authors.affiliation: Departement of Neuroscience, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patti
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010291:Paresis / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016683:Supine Position; D060726:Torso / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Stroke; recovery; trunk control