Reliability of intracortical and corticomotor excitability estimates obtained from the upper extremities in chronic stroke.

We estimated the trial-to-trial variability and the test-retest reliability of several intracortical and corticomotor excitability parameters for the upper extremity in chronic stroke patients. Nine patients with hemiparesis of the upper extremity were enrolled 8-17 months after a unilateral stroke. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to obtain repeated measures over a two week interval of motor evoked potential (MEP) recruitment curves and cortical silent periods in the first dorsal interosseus muscle of each hand.

Effects of age and sex on the results of an ankle plantar-flexor manual muscle test.

Background And Purpose: The ability to perform 20 or more one-leg heel-rises is considered a "normal" grade for muscle strength (force-generating capacity of muscle) of the ankle plantar flexors, regardless of age and sex. Because muscle strength is closely related to age and sex, the "normal" test criterion was re-evaluated in different groups categorized by age and sex.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred eighty sedentary volunteers (21-80 years of age) without lower-limb lesions performed as many repetitions of one-leg heel-rise as possible.

Effects of a home program on strength, walking speed, and function after total hip replacement.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a home exercise program in increasing hip muscle strength, walking speed, and function in patients more than 1.5 years after total hip replacement (THR).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.