Bioelectrical impedance analysis for severe stroke patients with upper extremity hemiplegia

[Purpose] This study is to analyze bioimpedance parameters and occupational assessment for severe stroke patients with upper extremity hemiplegia. [Subjects and Methods] Experimental subjects were 20 hemiplegic stroke patients receiving rehabilitation therapy between November to October, 2015. Prediction marker (PM), and phase angle (θ), a nd characteristic frequency (fc) were measured using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (MultiScan 5000). Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) was also obtained from the bioimpedance data. Then, these values were compared with occupational assessment tools. [Results] A significant differences in PM, θ, fc, and BIVA were observed between paretic region and non-paretic region of 5 severe stroke patients. These results were in good agreement with occupational assessment (pinch and hand grip strength, and ADL by MBI). [Conclusion] There were significant differences in impedance parameters between paretic region and non-paretic region of 5 severe stroke patients with upper extremity hemiplegia. Thus, the BIA could be useful tool for evaluating hemiplegic stroke patients receiving the rehabilitation therapy in the clinical application.