title: Paretic hand unimanual force control: Improved submaximal force production and regularity.
abstract: The purpose was to investigate force control capabilities in paretic hands during unimanual movements after coupled bimanual movement training and neuromuscular stimulation on impaired muscles. Nineteen chronic stroke participants completed 90 min of rehabilitation per week for six consecutive weeks. Before and after training, volunteers performed unimanual submaximal force control tasks at 5% and 50% of maximum voluntary contraction with their paretic and non-paretic hands. Force control measures included submaximal force production, force variability, accuracy, and regularity. Two major findings on paretic hands after training revealed: (a) greater submaximal force production across force levels and (b) less regular force outputs. Paretic hand control improved after coupled bimanual movement training as evidenced by submaximal force production and force regularity.
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Nyeonju
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Motor Behavior Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: cauraugh@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cauraugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004576:Electromyography; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000503:physiopathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Coupled bimanual movement training; Motor recovery; Paretic hand; Stroke; Unimanual force control