title: Task-Dependent Bimanual Coordination After Stroke: Relationship With Sensorimotor Impairments.
abstract: To determine (1) bimanual coordination deficits in patients with stroke using 3-dimensional kinematic analyses as they perform naturalistic tasks requiring collaborative interaction of the 2 arms; and (2) whether bimanual coordination deficits are related to clinical measures of sensorimotor impairments and unimanual performance of the paretic arm.
  
  
  
  Case-control study.
  
  
  
  Rehabilitation hospital research institute.
  
  
  
  Participants (N=24) were patients with unilateral chronic stroke (n=14) and age-matched controls (n=10).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  Temporal coordination between the 2 hands as participants performed (1) a symmetric task: reach to pick up a box using both hands; and (2) an asymmetric task: open a drawer with 1 hand to press a button inside with the other hand.
  
  
  
  During the symmetric task, patients and controls showed preserved temporal coupling while transporting the hands to the box. However, on reaching the box, patients demonstrated an impaired ability to cooperatively interact their 2 arms for an efficient pickup. This led to significantly longer pickup times compared with controls. Pickup time positively correlated with proprioceptive deficits of the paretic arm. During the asymmetric task, patients had a longer time delay between drawer opening and button pressing movements than controls. The deficits in asymmetric coordination did not significantly correlate with sensorimotor impairments or unimanual paretic arm performance.
  
  
  
  Bimanual coordination was impaired in patients poststroke during symmetric and asymmetric bimanual tasks that required cooperative interaction between the 2 arms. While the proprioceptive system contributes to symmetric cooperative coordination, commonly tested measures of paretic arm impairment or performance, or both, do not strongly predict deficits in bimanual coordination.
authors.affiliation: Neuroplasticity and Motor Behavior Laboratory, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, PA; Department of Physical Therapy, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA. Electronic address: kantaksh@einstein.edu.
authors.forename: Shailesh S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kantak
authors.affiliation: Neuroplasticity and Motor Behavior Laboratory, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, PA.
authors.forename: Nazaneen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zahedi
authors.affiliation: Neuroplasticity and Motor Behavior Laboratory, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, PA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Activities of daily living; Biomechanical phenomena; Rehabilitation; Stroke