title: Somatosensory Impairments in the Upper Limb Poststroke: Distribution and Association With Motor Function and Visuospatial Neglect.
abstract: A thorough understanding of the presence of different upper-limb somatosensory deficits poststroke and the relation with motor performance remains unclear. Additionally, knowledge about the relation between somatosensory deficits and visuospatial neglect is limited.
  
  
  
  To investigate the distribution of upper-limb somatosensory impairments and the association with unimanual and bimanual motor outcomes and visuospatial neglect.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, including 122 patients within 6 months after stroke (median = 82 days; interquartile range = 57-133 days). Somatosensory measurement included the Erasmus MC modification of the (revised) Nottingham Sensory Assessment (Em-NSA), Perceptual Threshold of Touch (PTT), thumb finding test, 2-point discrimination, and stereognosis subscale of the NSA. Upper-limb motor assessment comprised the Fugl-Meyer assessment, motricity index, Action Research Arm Test, and Adult-Assisting Hand Assessment Stroke. Screening for visuospatial neglect was performed using the Star Cancellation Test.
  
  
  
  Upper-limb somatosensory impairments were common, with prevalence rates ranging from 21% to 54%. Low to moderate Spearman ρ correlations were found between somatosensory and motor deficits (r = 0.22-0.61), with the strongest associations for PTT (r = 0.56-0.61) and stereognosis (r = 0.51-0.60). Visuospatial neglect was present in 27 patients (22%). Between-group analysis revealed somatosensory deficits that occurred significantly more often and more severely in patients with visuospatial neglect (P < .05). Results showed consistently stronger correlations between motor and somatosensory deficits in patients with visuospatial neglect (r = 0.44-0.78) compared with patients without neglect (r = 0.08-0.59).
  
  
  
  Somatosensory impairments are common in subacute patients poststroke and are related to motor outcome. Visuospatial neglect was associated with more severe upper-limb somatosensory impairments.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium sarah.meyer@faber.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Bruyn
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Hospital RevArte, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lafosse
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Margaretha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Jessa Hospital - Rehabilitation Centre Sint Ursula, Herk-de-stad, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.affiliation: Jessa Hospital - Rehabilitation Centre Sint Ursula, Herk-de-stad, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liselot
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thijs
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation and MS Centre Overpelt, Overpelt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Veronik
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Truyens
authors.affiliation: Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oostra
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet - Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krumlinde-Sundholm
authors.affiliation: Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Vesalius Research Center - VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thijs
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feys
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verheyden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: motor deficit; somatosensory impairment; stroke; upper extremity; visuospatial neglect