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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
10:32
Robotic Mirror Therapy System for Functional Recovery of Hemiplegic Arms
Published on: August 15, 2016
The cold hemiplegic arm
P Wanklyn1, D W Ilsley, D Greenstein
1Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Stroke
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Patients experiencing coldness after hemiplegic stroke have significantly lower finger skin temperatures and reduced blood flow in the affected hand. This study clarifies vasomotor changes in hemiplegic arms, identifying key indicators of symptomatic coldness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Vasomotor changes in the arm are common after hemiplegic stroke.
- Previous research on hemiplegic arm skin temperature yielded conflicting results.
- Some stroke survivors report distressing coldness in the affected arm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vasomotor changes in hemiplegic stroke patients experiencing coldness.
- To compare symptomatic and asymptomatic patients regarding temperature and blood flow.
- To understand the severity of coldness as a post-stroke symptom.
Main Methods:
- Recruited patients with symptomatic coldness (n=11) and without (n=10) after hemiplegia.
- Assessed coldness severity via questionnaire compared to other stroke symptoms.
- Utilized thermography for finger skin temperature response to cold stress.
- Measured bilateral hand blood flow using plethysmography.
Main Results:
- Coldness was a highly rated symptom among participants.
- Symptomatic patients showed lower resting finger temperature on the hemiplegic side (P < .0001).
- Reduced finger temperature persisted after cold stress in symptomatic patients.
- Hemiplegic hand blood flow decreased by 35% in symptomatic patients.
Conclusions:
- Hand coldness can be a severe and distressing symptom post-hemiplegic stroke.
- Symptomatic patients exhibit lower finger temperatures and impaired blood flow.
- Findings highlight objective physiological differences in patients with hemiplegic arm coldness.
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