Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

Back ground and Purpose: The ability to reach and grasp is a necessary component of many daily life functional tasks, hence reduced upper limb function has an impact on the ability to perform activities of daily living. In hemiparetic patients, the unrestricted and unguided repetition of a motor task may reinforce compensatory movements. Trunk restraint allowed the patients to use joint ranges that were present but not recruited during unrestrained reaching. This study aimed to compare the effect of trunk restraining versus balance training on improving active range of motion (ROM) during reach to grasp and hand function in stroke patients. Patients and methods: Forty -five stroke patients with age ranged from 40 to 55 years were included in the study. Patients were divided into three equal groups according to therapeutic intervention(GI, GII and GIII), GI received program of reach to grasp movements training during which compensatory movement of the trunk was prevented by trunk restraint, GII received the same program with balance training and without trunk restraint and GIII received the same program only. All patients were assessed for arm impairment using Fugl-Meyer scale, arm function using Upper Extremity Performance Test, gross and fine hand function using Box and Block test and Purdue Pegboard test respectively and for kinematic measures by two- dimensional motion analysis system during reach to grasp movement

Issued also as CD