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Updated: May 21, 2026
08:23
Standing Neurophysiological Assessment of Lower Extremity Muscles Post-Stroke
Published on: July 26, 2021
Perspective on neuromuscular factors in poststroke fatigue
Svetlana Knorr1, Charles L Rice, S Jayne Garland
1Graduate Program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Disability and Rehabilitation
|June 6, 2012
Summary
Post-stroke fatigue often stems from central neuromuscular issues, not peripheral ones. Understanding these origins is key to developing effective fatigue management strategies for stroke survivors.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Fatigue is a prevalent and poorly understood symptom following stroke.
- Neuromuscular fatigue has both central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral (muscle) origins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential origins of post-stroke fatigue from a neuromuscular perspective.
- To examine stroke-induced alterations at cortical, spinal, and muscle levels contributing to fatigue.
Main Methods:
- Narrative literature review.
- Analysis of neuromuscular fatigue mechanisms in stroke survivors.
Main Results:
- Stroke survivors exhibit greater central fatigue and less peripheral fatigue during voluntary contractions of the paretic leg compared to healthy individuals.
- Neuromuscular adaptations post-stroke increase susceptibility to central fatigue, potentially explaining increased tiredness in daily activities.
Conclusions:
- Central neuromuscular fatigue is a significant contributor to self-reported fatigue after stroke.
- Further research is needed to identify therapeutic interventions that can effectively manage post-stroke fatigue.
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