Association between imbalance of cortical brain activity and successful motor recovery in sub-acute stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

So an association was found. What fucking good will this do to get survivors recovered? The whole point of stroke research is survivor recovery. Did you not know that? 

Association between imbalance of cortical brain activity and successful motor recovery in sub-acute stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

(PMID:31283713)

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Kinoshita S ¹ , 

Tamashiro H ² , 

Okamoto T ³ , 

Urushidani N ² , 

Abo M ³  

Affiliations

Neuroreport [01 Aug 2019, 30(12):822-827]

Type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001283

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 

This study was designed to determine the association between motor functional recovery and interhemispheric imbalance in cortical brain activity in sub-cortical stroke patients with moderate-to-severe upper limb hemiparesis admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 

The study included first-ever stroke patients with moderate-to-severe upper limb hemiparesis who received multidisciplinary rehabilitation therapy in the rehabilitation ward. Motor function of the affected upper extremity was evaluated by the Fugl-Meyer assessment and action research arm test at 1 (T1) and 3 months (T2) after stroke onset. We also conducted serial functional near-infrared spectroscopy at the same time points and calculated the laterality index, which is based on changes in oxyhaemoglobin in primary sensorimotor cortex (Brodmann Area 4), pre-motor cortex and supplementary motor cortex (PMC + SMA, BA6). 

RESULTS: 

The study included eight patients (seven females, mean age: 68.8). Both the Fugl-Meyer assessment and action research arm test scores improved significantly during the study. Laterality index did not change significantly from T1 to T2. There was a no significant correlation between changes in laterality index in each region and improvement in Fugl-Meyer assessment score. In contrast, a significant and negative correlation was noted between ΔLI in Brodmann Area 4 and improvement in action research arm test score. 

CONCLUSION: 

Our results suggested that activation of the non-lesional hemisphere in sub-acute stroke associated with motor recovery in moderate-to-severe upper limb hemiparesis. A multidisciplinary rehabilitation of stroke patients with moderate-to-severe upper limb hemiparesis might enhance the compensatory movements and pre-existing motor network from the non-lesional motor cortex.

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