Trunk muscle strength is impaired multidirectionally after stroke

Abstract

This study was undertaken to describe and compare the forward and lateral trunk flexion strength of 20 patients with stroke and hemiparesis and 20 matched controls. Trunk flexion strength was measured with a hand-held dynamometer while subjects were seated upright. Analysis of variance procedures showed trunk strength, whether lateral or forward, to be decreased significantly in the patients relative to controls. The greatest difference between groups was in forward flexion strength. The patients also demonstrated weakness of the trunk on the paretic relative to the nonparetic side. The results show that trunk muscle strength is impaired multidirectionally in patients with stroke. Such impairments have the potential to affect function.