The effect of hemispheric lesion location on trunk control

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Postural Control Research

Background:

• Trunk control is crucial for postural stability, involving complex neuromuscular coordination.
• Lateropulsion, or falling to one side, is a common post-stroke issue affecting trunk control.
• Hemispheric lesion location influences postural control regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the impact of hemispheric lesion location on trunk control and motor function outcomes in stroke patients.
• To compare trunk control and motor recovery between patients with right and left hemisphere lesions.

Main Methods:

• Patients were grouped by lesion: right hemisphere (Group 1) and left hemisphere (Group 2).
• Evaluated comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index) and cognitive function (SMMSE).
• Assessed activities of daily living (Modified Barthel Index), trunk control (STREAM), and motor function (Brunnstrom test).

Main Results:

• Group 2 (left hemisphere lesions) had higher STREAM lower extremity scores than Group 1 (right hemisphere lesions).
• Patients with total middle cerebral artery (MCA) lesions showed significantly higher upper extremity, lower extremity, and total STREAM scores, and better Brunnstrom (BS) hand stage in Group 2.
• A higher number of patients in BS lower extremity Stages IV-VI were observed in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Right hemispheric lesions are associated with more significant impairments in trunk control post-stroke.
• Total middle cerebral artery (MCA) lesions substantially affect trunk control recovery.