title: Does an association exist between the hierarchical motor components of upper and lower limbs in stroke?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abnormal synergisitic linkage exists between the upper and lower limbs. The relation may persist till the last stage of motor recovery. The objective of the present study was to analyze the relation between the motor components of the upper extremity and lower extremity in stroke subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional and correlational design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine poststroke chronic hemiparetic subjects (39 men; Mean age = 48.81 years; Mean poststroke duration = 11.22 months and 34 right-side paresis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not-applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA): upper extremity (FMA-UE) and lower extremity (FMA-LE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A moderate positive correlation (r = .65, p < .001) was found between FMA-UE and FMA-LE. FMA-UE (51%) was found to be significantly inferior (p < .001; 95% CI = 6 to 17) in comparison to FMA-LE (63%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In poststroke subjects, there is a moderate positive relation between the recovery components of affected upper limb and lower limb. Stroke rehabilitation should consider hierarchical motor components of the lower limb and upper limb simultaneously.
authors.affiliation: Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, 4 VD Marg, New Delhi 110002, India. Electronic address: kamalnarya@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kamal Narayan
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.affiliation: Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, 4 VD Marg, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Shanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandian
authors.affiliation: Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, 4 VD Marg, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Dharmendra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Hemiparesis; Interlimb; Motor control; Motor recovery; Neural coupling; Stroke; Synergy