title: Reach-to-grasp co-ordination in the paretic limbs of individuals with stroke: insight from a barrier paradigm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reach and grasp components must be co-ordinated to preserve the optimal reach-to-grasp performance. However conflicting results regarding the deficit in reach-to-grasp co-ordination has been reported in the paretic hand of individuals after stroke. Additionally, investigations have not been undertaken to study more challenging task constraints to induce the impairment of reach-to-grasp co-ordination. This study aimed to compare reach-to-grasp co-ordination while avoiding an obstacle in the paretic hand of individuals after stroke with matched non-disabled adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four participants having mild severity of upper extremity impairment were recruited with an equal number of non-disabled adults. Kinematic reach-to-grasp movements with obstacle avoidance were analyzed. Reach-to-grasp co-ordination was quantified using cross-correlation analysis: maximum correlation coefficient represented the spatial aspect and the time lag represented the temporal aspects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals after stroke showed a significant disturbance in the temporal aspect of reach-to-grasp co-ordination, but not the spatial aspect as compared with non-disabled adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among participants, after stroke reach-to-grasp co-ordination was delayed in the temporal aspect of reach-to-grasp with obstacle avoidance but preserved in the spatial aspect. Specific methods to assess reach-to-grasp co-ordination and to treat the time delay to improve co-ordination should be considered in individuals after stroke.
authors.forename: Nuttakarn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Runnarong
authors.forename: Jarugool
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tretriluxana
authors.forename: Vimonwan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hiengkaew
authors.forename: Roongtiwa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vachalathiti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors