Relationship between the Deviation of Subject Visual Verticality and Time Course of Severity of Pusher Syndrome in Acute Stroke Patients

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the time course of deviation of subject visual verticality (SVV) and the severity of pusher syndrome (PS) to clarify whether improvement of deviated SVV is associated with improved severity of PS.

Method: We recruited 14 patients with PS who could assess deviation of SVV at the first physical therapy session day. The assessment of deviation of SVV and severity of PS using the Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP) in 14 hemiparetic stroke patients with PS was performed twice a week for 3 weeks. We also analyzed the relationship between deviation of SVV and SCP.

Results: SCP and SVV were significantly improved. However, the deviation of SVV and severity of PS were not correlated at each time measurement. In addition, there were differences in the timings of recovery in SVV and SCP.

Conclusion: Improvement in deviated SVV does not appear to be correlated to improvement in severity of PS.