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(Stroke. 2007;38:1088.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Reports

Active Finger Extension

A Simple Movement Predicting Recovery of Arm Function in Patients With Acute Stroke

Nicola Smania, MD; Stefano Paolucci, MD; Michele Tinazzi, MD; Anna Borghero, MD; Paolo Manganotti, MD; Antonio Fiaschi, MD; Giuseppe Moretto, MD; Paolo Bovi, MD Mattia Gambarin, MD

From the Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences (N.S., M.T., A.B., P.M., A.F., M.G.), Neurorehabilitation Section, University of Verona, Italy; the IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (S.P.), Rome, Italy; and the Neurology Unit "Maggiore" Hospital (M.T., G.M., P.B.), Verona, Italy.

Correspondence to Nicola Smania, Rehabilitation Unit, "G.B. Rossi" University Hospital, Via L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona (Italy). E-mail nicola.smania{at}univr.it

Background and Purpose— Early prognosis of arm recovery is a major clinical issue in stroke. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of 4 simple bedside tests.

Methods— Forty-eight patients with arm paresis/plegia were evaluated on days 7, 14, 30, 90 and 180 after stroke. Assessment included 4 potential predictors of arm recovery (active finger extension, shoulder abduction, shoulder shrug and hand movement scales) and 3 outcome measures evaluating arm function (Nine Hole Peg Test, Fugl-Meyer arm subtest, Motricity Index arm subtest).

Results— The active finger extension scale was the most powerful prognostic factor. Patients with active finger extension scores >3 had a high probability of achieving good performance as assessed by the Motricity Index.

Conclusions— Active finger extension is a reliable early predictor of recovery of arm function in stroke patients.

Key Words: prognosis • rehabilitation • stroke