Impact of Neglect on the Relationship Between Upper Limb Motor Function and Upper Limb Performance in the...

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Stroke recovery research
• Clinical neurology

Background:

• Visuospatial neglect (VSN) is a known predictor of poor stroke outcomes.
• VSN is linked to reduced upper limb (UL) motor recovery in lab settings.
• The effect of VSN on UL performance in daily life post-stroke remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of VSN on the relationship between UL motor function and UL performance in acute stroke patients.
• To determine if VSN moderates the association between objective UL motor capacity and real-world UL use.

Main Methods:

• Proof-of-principle study involving 65 hyperacute first-ever stroke patients.
• Assessed UL motor function using the Jamar Hand Dynamometer.
• Evaluated UL performance in daily life with the Upper Limb Lucerne ICF-based Multidisciplinary Observation Scale.
• Utilized moderator analysis to examine the interaction between VSN and UL motor function on UL performance.

Main Results:

• A significant negative interaction term indicated that VSN suppresses the utilization of UL motor function in everyday activities.
• VSN diminishes the translation of motor capacity into functional performance.
• The association between UL motor function and performance is weaker in patients with VSN.

Conclusions:

• VSN negatively impacts upper limb performance in daily life following stroke.
• Interventions addressing both visuospatial deficits and UL motor function are recommended early in acute stroke units.
• Addressing VSN is essential for optimizing functional upper limb recovery in stroke survivors.