Postural asymmetry correlated with lateralization of cerebellar perfusion in persons with chronic stroke: A role of crossed cerebellar diaschisis in left side.
Hemiplegia after stroke leads to impairment of the affected limbs and induces more weight on the non-paretic lower limb to form postural asymmetry. Studies of asymmetric cerebral functions have found similarly asymmetric functions in the cerebellum. Crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) is defined as reduced blood flow and hypometabolism in the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to supratentorial cerebral pathology. No study explored the relationship between posture (standing balance) and CCD in those persons yet. It was hypothesized that CCD would impair postural control and tend toward lateralization of cerebellar perfusion.



To determine the relationship between postural asymmetry and CCD among patients with chronic stroke while testing in the upright position. Based on images from Tc-99m-ECD brain perfusion, 42 patients were retrospectively allocated into three groups: left CCD, right CCD and no CCD. The ability to maintain an upright stance as assessed by postural parameters was evaluated using a force platform.



The sway intensity differed significantly between the groups with left CCD and no CCD (p = 0.0052), as did the sway velocities (p = 0.0010). The association between the duration of stroke and sway intensity was highly significant (p < 0.0001). The interval from the stroke onset to the postural analysis was significantly associated with sway intensity and velocity.



This study indicates that the impairment of posture sway control was more severe in left CCD than the other CCD types. The results support a relationship between the postural asymmetry and lateralization of CCD in patients with chronic stroke.
a Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Centre , Taipei , Taiwan.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine , National Defense Medical Centre , Taipei , Taiwan.|c Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Tri-Service General Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan.
Cheng-Chiang
CC
Chang
d Centre for General Education , Kainan University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|e School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Centre , Taipei , Taiwan.
Chih-Hung
CH
Ku
a Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Centre , Taipei , Taiwan.|b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine , National Defense Medical Centre , Taipei , Taiwan.|f Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Taichung Veterans General Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan.
Shin-Tsu
ST
Chang
D000368:Aged; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
Hemiplegic stroke; crossed cerebellar diaschisis; perfusion lateralization; postural imbalance; postural sway; single-photon emission computed tomography