Abstract
This study was performed to determine if muscle strength increases (during rehabilitation) in each of the four extremities of hemiparetic stroke patients and to determine whether percentage increases are related to initial strength or time since onset of hemiparesis. The strength of 14 muscle groups was measured with a hand-held dynamometer during an initial assessment and again prior to discharge. For seven of the muscle groups, strength increases were expressed as daily percentage increases relative to initial strength. The strength increased significantly in all four extremities between initial and final assessment. Percentage strength increases were greater in weaker muscles, albeit significantly in only two of seven muscle groups. Percentage strength increases were not correlated with time since onset of hemiparesis. Given the findings of this and previous studies, the clinician can probably conclude with some confidence that the muscle strength of all four extremities of stroke patients will, as a rule, improve during inpatient rehabilitation. It is doubtful that higher percentage increases in strength will allow patients with weaker muscles to gain strength to the point that their muscles are as strong as those of patients who were stronger initially.