Assessment of behavioral tasks performed by hemiplegic patients with impaired dexterity post stroke

Disability continues to be one of the leading reasons individuals affected by stroke are left incapable of performing daily activities. Due to the staggering number of disabled adults suffering post-stroke neurological damage, there is a critical need for creating and monitoring effects of successful, intensive stroke therapies. Behavioral assessments are useful tools by which to examine the effectiveness of these stroke therapies as they allow for the investigation of multiple variables, including task performance time, performance quality, and degree of motor function. The purpose of this review is to discuss various behavioral assessments commonly administered during stroke rehabilitation. Developing a battery of standardized behavioral tests would create an instrument to assess therapies, and therefore, ensure the most successful therapies stay in practice to help the recovery of individuals suffering from impaired dexterity due to stroke.