IMPAIRMENT AND RECOVERY OF LEFT MOTOR FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RIGHTHEMIPLEGIA

Objective--To assess the motor function of the left, supposedly unaffe cted, limbs of patients with an acute right vascular hemiplegia. Metho ds--Fifteen patients with an acute vascular right hemiplegia and 16 ma tched healthy controls were studied. Motor function of the left limbs of each patient was evaluated on days 20 and 90 after their stroke usi ng four validated tools (hand dynamometer, isokinetic dynamometer, fin ger tapping, and nine hole peg test). Results--There was a significant impairment of motor function of the left limbs of patients at day 20 compared with controls. The impairment had recovered almost completely at day 90 after the stroke. Conclusion--These results show the bilate ral cerebral representation of the human motor system and suggest the participation of ipsilateral motor pathways in recovery after a stroke .