Relationship between Trunk Function and ADL of Hemiplegic Stroke Patients

Abstract

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between trunk function of hemplegic stroke patients and activities of daily living (ADL). We also compared the hemiplegic side function with FIM movement and cognition items and investigated the differences in trunk function between different types of lesions. [Subjects] The subjects were 56 recovery stage hemiplegic stroke patients, average age 66.3 ± 10.7 years. [Method] Trunk function was assessed using the Functional Assessment for Control of the Trunk (FACT), ADL by Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and function of the hemiplegic side by the Brunnstrom stage. [Results] A very high correlation was obtained for the total scores of FACT and FIM. Only FIM cognition items had a high correlation with trunk function. We compared the lesion sites of start of the middle cerebral artery, putamen and thalamus, but no correlation was found with the thalamus. [Conclusion] The results suggest, ADL of hemiplegic stroke patients has a stronger relationship with trunk function than hemiplegic side function, that it is also related to cognitive function, and that trunk function differs with lesion site.