Flexion Synergy Overshadows Flexor Spasticity During Reaching in Chronic Moderate to Severe Hemiparetic Stroke

Clinicians will be required to quantitatively measure and directly target the contributing underlying motor impairments in individuals with hemiparetic stroke to realize advances beyond conventional care in restoring upper extremity function (Krakauer et al., 2012). In the context of reaching function, impairment in joint individuation is the best predictor of recovery outcome over other common impairments observed in chronic stroke such as weakness and spasticity (Zackowski et al., 2004). The term "spasticity" is defined traditionally as a velocity-dependent hyperactive stretch reflex (Lance, 1980; Thilmann et al., 1991) measured under passive conditions.

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