Correlation between upper limb spasticity and hand movement after stroke

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hemiparesis and spasticity are common consequences in stroke patients, hampering the movement in the affected side. Our study aimed to correlate upper limb spasticity and the ability to move the hand in these patients. This is a quantitative cross-sectional study with an ex post facto correlational design. We evaluated patients undergoing follow-up at the Neurovascular Outpatient Clinic at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. An evaluation form was filled out with sample data and the upper limb spasticity was evaluated using the Modified Ashworth Scale and the active hand movement using the Hand Movement Scale. Correlation of variables were verified using Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient. A significance level of 5% (p≤0.05) was adopted. In total, we evaluated 47 subjects of all genders, with a mean age of 64.5 (±13) years and a mean stroke time of 2.7 (±1.8) months. The Hand movement Scale mode was 6 points, and 74.4% of patients were not spastic. Hand movement showed a significant negative correlation with the spastic muscles evaluated. There was a moderate negative correlation with the pectoral muscles (r=−0.383; p=0.007), elbow flexors (r=−0.339; p=0.016) and pronators (r=−0.460; p=0.001) and high negative correlation with wrist flexors (r=−0.588; p<0.001) and finger flexors (r=−0.692; p<.001). The greater the degree of spasticity of the upper limb, the smaller the hand movement capacity in stroke patients.