Post-Stroke Lateropulsion: Resolution and Function After Discharge From Inpatient Rehabilitation - A Cohort Study

A person with post-stroke lateropulsion pushes their body toward their hemiparetic side and/or resists accepting weight onto their nonparetic side. Research findings regarding long-term persistence of lateropulsion and its association with function are lacking. This study reports associations between lateropulsion severity (Four Point Pusher Score - 4PPS) and functional outcome (Functional Independence Measure - FIM) at three months after discharge.

This prospective cohort study included 41 consecutive admissions to a stroke rehabilitation unit. Lateropulsion severity and FIM were measured at admission, discharge and three-month follow-up. Lateropulsion status at discharge, stroke laterality, ongoing physiotherapy after discharge, and demographic variables (age and sex) were tested for association with FIM change over the follow-up period.

Complete data were available for 38 participants. Among these, 17 (44.7%) showed lateropulsion (4PPS ≥ 1) on admission, 9 (23.7%) showed persistent lateropulsion on discharge, and 7 (18.4%) showed persistent lateropulsion at three month follow-up. Improved functional status (FIM score) was seen at follow-up in those discharged with lateropulsion who had right-sided lesions but not in those with left-sided lesions.

Lateropulsion can continue to resolve after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Larger cohort studies are needed to further explore associations between persistent lateropulsion and long-term outcomes.