Corticospinal tract integrity correlated with knee extensor weakness in chronic stroke survivors

I would love to have them write this at an eighth grade level.
http://www.naric.com/research/rehab/record.cfm?search=2&type=all&criteria=J62508&phrase=no&rec=117188
NARIC Accession Number: J62508. What's this?
ISSN: 1388-2457.
Author(s): Madhavan, Sangeetha; Krishnan, Chandramouli; Jayaraman, Arun; Rymer, William Z; Stinear, James W..
Project Number: H133E070013, H133F090009.
Publication Year: 2011.
Number of Pages: 7.
Abstract: Study investigated the role of corticospinal tract (CST) integrity on knee extensor weakness in chronic stroke survivors. Knee extensor strength and activation testing were performed at 90 degrees of knee flexion using an interpolated triplet technique. CST integrity was evaluated using data obtained from diffusion tensor imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Recordings in nine stroke subjects indicated substantial knee extensor weakness and activation deficits in the paretic legs of the stroke survivors. Regression analysis revealed that asymmetry in CST integrity was strongly related to between-leg differences in knee strength. The results suggest a strong link between CST integrity and lower extremity strength, and add to the growing evidence of substantial knee extensor weakness and activation impairments in stroke survivors. The findings from this study further our understanding of the anatomical and neurophysiological contributions to motor impairments after stroke, which may benefit clinicians and researchers in the field of stroke rehabilitation.
Descriptor Terms: ELECTRICAL STIMULATION, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, IMAGING, LIMBS, NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS, STROKE.