Article

This study evaluates finger
flexion and extension strengthening exercises using elastic resistance in chronic
stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen stroke patients (mean age: 56.8 +/- 7.6 years)
with hemiparesis performed 3 consecutive repetitions of finger flexion and
extension, using 3 different elastic resistance levels (easy, moderate, and
hard). Surface electromyography was recorded from the flexor digitorum
superficialis (FDS) and extensor digitorum (ED) muscles and normalized to the
maximal electromyography of the non-paretic arm. RESULTS: Maximal grip strength
was 39.2 (standard deviation: 12.5) and 7.8 kg (standard deviation: 9.4) in the
nonparetic and paretic hand, respectively. For the paretic hand, muscle activity
was higher during finger flexion exercise than during finger extension exercise
for both ED (30% [95% confidence interval {CI}: 19-40] vs 15% [95% CI: 5-25] and
FDS (37% [95% CI: 27-48] vs 24% [95% CI: 13-35]). For the musculature of both the
FDS and ED, no dose-response association was observed for resistance and muscle
activity during the flexion exercise (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The finger flexion
exercise showed higher muscle activity in both the flexor and extensor
musculature of the forearm than the finger extension exercise. Furthermore,
greater resistance did not result in higher muscle activity during the finger
flexion exercise. The present results suggest that the finger flexion exercise
should be the preferred strengthening exercise to achieve high levels of muscle
activity in both flexor and extensor forearm muscles in chronic stroke patients.
The finger extension exercise may be performed with emphasis on improving
neuromuscular control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4b.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights
reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS