antiquity
08-21-2002, 10:40 PM
Hand Function and Stroke
Aug. 22, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Doctors report new evidence that shows patients may be able to recover more movement following a stroke. Stroke patients are often left with some paralysis in their extremities. Doctors say many patients hit a plateau about one year after the injury and live with the residual damage for the rest of their lives. The study finds a new approach may be able to go beyond the traditional recovery.
Research shows patients typically have more function in their upper arm than in their hand. A new theory points to limited space in their brain and the idea that all the body parts are fighting for a piece of "internal space." Doctors further believe when the upper arm functions, it takes up more of the space and leaves even less of a chance for the hand to function.
Investigators conducted two experiments to determine hand improvement -- with and without local anesthesia. In the first experiment, patients did hand movements in 30-minute blocks. In the second experiment, the doctors used a regional anesthesia to block the function of the upper arm, while the patient performed hand movements.
In the first experiment, patients rapidly improved in the force and speed at which they could pinch their fingers after the first and second practice sessions. In the second experiment, most of the patients reported significant functional benefits such as being able to grip better, having better hand control, having more hand strength, writing better and longer, and normal-feeling hands.
"This is a novel therapeutic strategy that may help improve hand function in patients with long-term weakness after stroke," write the authors of the study. Their study was in a small group of patients and while they are optimistic about their findings, they suggest further studies are necessary.
SOURCE: Archives of Neurology, 2002;59:1278-1282
http://www.ivanhoe.com/story/p_newsflash.cfm?storyid=4212
[This message was edited by seneca on Aug 22, 2002 at 04:54 AM.]
Aug. 22, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Doctors report new evidence that shows patients may be able to recover more movement following a stroke. Stroke patients are often left with some paralysis in their extremities. Doctors say many patients hit a plateau about one year after the injury and live with the residual damage for the rest of their lives. The study finds a new approach may be able to go beyond the traditional recovery.
Research shows patients typically have more function in their upper arm than in their hand. A new theory points to limited space in their brain and the idea that all the body parts are fighting for a piece of "internal space." Doctors further believe when the upper arm functions, it takes up more of the space and leaves even less of a chance for the hand to function.
Investigators conducted two experiments to determine hand improvement -- with and without local anesthesia. In the first experiment, patients did hand movements in 30-minute blocks. In the second experiment, the doctors used a regional anesthesia to block the function of the upper arm, while the patient performed hand movements.
In the first experiment, patients rapidly improved in the force and speed at which they could pinch their fingers after the first and second practice sessions. In the second experiment, most of the patients reported significant functional benefits such as being able to grip better, having better hand control, having more hand strength, writing better and longer, and normal-feeling hands.
"This is a novel therapeutic strategy that may help improve hand function in patients with long-term weakness after stroke," write the authors of the study. Their study was in a small group of patients and while they are optimistic about their findings, they suggest further studies are necessary.
SOURCE: Archives of Neurology, 2002;59:1278-1282
http://www.ivanhoe.com/story/p_newsflash.cfm?storyid=4212
[This message was edited by seneca on Aug 22, 2002 at 04:54 AM.]