Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Alternative Medicine, Jeonju University, Hyoja-dong 3-ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea | [b] Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Heungup-myun, Wonju-si, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea | [c] Department of Occupational Therapy, Hanseo University, Haemi-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea | [d] Department of Control & Instrumentation Engineering, Kangwon National University, Jungangno 1-ga, Samcheok-si, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Min-ye Jung, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, 234 Maeji-ri, Heungup-myun, Wonju-si, Kangwon-do 220-710, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 63 220 2299; Fax: +82 63 220 2054; E-mail: Minye@yonsei.ac.kr
Abstract: Background:Stroke patients have major problems with impaired upper-extremity function. Unfortunately, many patients do not experience a full recovery from movement deficits in the upper extremities. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of inter-limb learning transfer (ILT) to the contralateral upper limb after both hemisphere-specific and -unspecific ipsilateral upper limb training for stroke patients with hemiparesis. Methods:Twenty-four stroke patients with hemiparesis participated. The hemisphere-specific training group performed reaching movements in a customized training setting in which non-dominant limb training participants began from a single starting location and proceeded to one of three target locations (1S3T condition); the dominant limb training participants started from one of three starting locations and proceeded to a single target location (3S1T condition). The hemisphere-unspecific training group performed these movements starting under reverse-start and target conditions. Results:The non-dominant to dominant limb transfer, the hemisphere-specific training group performance time decreased significantly as compared with the pre-training session (p < 0.05). Also, the isolation contraction ratio was decreased significantly from that of the pre-training session in the biceps brachii muscles and increased significantly in the upper trapezius muscles (p < 0.05). And, dominant to non-dominant limb transfer in the hemisphere-specific training group significantly increased RMS amplitudes from the pre-training session in the biceps brachii and triceps muscles (p < 0.05). Also, the isolation contraction ratio was increased significantly from that of the pre-training session in the biceps brachii muscles and decreased significantly in the upper trapezius muscles (p < 0.05). However, the hemisphere-unspecific training group showed no significant differences in inter-limb learning transfer (ILT). Conclusion:The transfer of hemisphere-specific training from one arm to the other had a more positive influence on functional recovery than did hemisphere-unspecific training for patients with stroke and hemiparesis.
Keywords: Electromyography, hemisphere, inter-limb learning transfer
