Laterality of Performance in Fingertapping Rate and Grip Strength in Stroke Patients

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 1996;20(1):10.

Jin Kyung Na, M.D., Hee Kyu Kwon, M.D. , Kyung Hee Kim, M.D.*

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine and Industrial Rehabilitaiton Hospital Labor Welfare Corporation*

뇌졸중 환자의 수지 타진율과 파악력 수행의 편향성

나진경, 권희규, 김경희*

고려대학교 의과대학 재활의학과교실, 근로복지공사 산업재활원*

Abstract

Laterality is the tendency of the cerebral hemisphere to specialize in function.

To confirm the prediction of lateralized motor ability we tested grip strength and finger tapping rate in 21 right-handed hemiparetic patients due to cerebro-vascular disease and 21 right-handed age and gender matched controls. GRIP and TAP tests are common measures of motor function selected to distinguish rapid repetitive vs sustained performance.

Right hemispheric cerebrovascular accident(R-CVA) patients exhibited lower grip power than controls in right hand and left hemispheric cerebrovascular accident(L-CVA) patients exhibited lower finger tapping rate than controls in left hand.

In addition, L-CVA male patients had the enhanced abilities in left hand grip power compared to contols.

It was concluded that individuals behave differently depending on hemisphere of stroke, and some implications for the poststroke motor rehabilitation program were discussed.

Key Words: Cerebrovascular disease, Laterality, Rehabilitation