Interests of Strengthening Isokinetic Upper Extremity Hemiparetic Sequelae in Patients

Stroke (CVA) is the leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in developed countries as in developing countries (WHO, 2000). In the aftermath of a stroke, patients keep a permanent disability in 75% of cases and only one quarter of them is able to resume work. The post stroke sequelae are sensory-motor and cognitive.

According to literature data, 75-83% of patients who survive a stroke learn to walk only 25 to 45% recover use of their upper limb in activities of daily living (Friedman, 1990).

The existence of a phase called "plateau" in motor recovery after stroke has been suggested (Colautti, 2001). This would occur beyond the 4 th month and would correspond to a phase where the rehabilitation techniques used in the subacute phase are deemed less effective. Recently, Page (2004) speculated that this plateau phase is rather the consequence of adaptation to the type of patient follow-up training and not that of a limit to the possibilities of recovery. In an observational study on the recovery of upper limb conducted over a period of 4 years, Broeks (2004) showed a possible recovery beyond 16 weeks post stroke. The results of studies on different techniques for rehabilitation of chronic stroke patients tend to confirm the hypothesis of page. Therefore, varying the training parameters (type, intensity, frequency) could improve the functional capabilities of these patients, even at a distance of stroke.

Strength training is part of the management of hemiparetic patients. The results of several studies show an improvement in muscle strength and functional ability to walk after a building program isokinetic lower limb (Sharp, 1997).

The objective of our project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a building program of isokinetic muscle on the paretic limb motor recovery in hemiparetic patients over 6 months of a stroke.