The relationship between selected clinical and demographic variables and sensori-motor recovery of the upper limb among stroke survivors

Background: Functional recovery of the upper-limb after stroke poses challenges to rehabilitation efforts and is of major concern to the patients. The need to explore specific characteristics of stroke survivors that influence recoveryof upper-limb function is highly imperative to guide effective rehabilitation.Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between selected clinical and demographic variables and sensori-motor recovery of the upper-limb in the first 3months of stroke.Methods: This prospective longitudinal study involved 39 (19 males and 20 females) stroke survivors consecutively recruited from two tertiary health institutions in Lagos, Nigeria. Only stroke survivors whose brain lesions were classified using the CT scan and/or MRI were included in this study. The upper limb's sensory and motor functions were assessed using the Nottingham Sensory Assessment Scale and Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Scale respectively. Sensori-motor functions were assessed within 14 days of stroke and then monthly for three consecutive months. Data was analysed with the Spearman correlation coefficient at p<0.05.Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.05±13.34 years Twenty-four had ischaemic stroke while 15 had haemorrhagic stroke. Nineteen had right hemiplegia while 20 had left hemiplegia. Twenty-eight had cortical stroke while 11 had sub-cortical stroke. Initial sensory and motor impairments had significant relationship (p<0.001) with sensory recovery and motor recovery respectively. Location of lesion had association (p=0.03) with motor recovery but not with sensory recovery of the upper limb.Conclusion: Initial sensory impairment and initial motor impairment are important factors that influence sensorimotor recoveries of the upper limb after stroke. However, location of lesion is significantly related to motor recovery of the upper limb.Keywords: Stroke, Upper limb, Sensorimotor, Demograph