Time-related changes in motor performance of the upper extremity ipsilateral to the side of the lesion in stroke survivors.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine time-related changes in motor performance of daily tasks of the upper extremity ipsilateral to the side of lesion in poststroke hemiparetic patients.

Methods: Nine patients after an acute uniliteral cerebrovascular accident and 10 age-matched healthy controls were studied. Functional motor abilities of the upper extremity ipsilateral to side of lesion were examined over a 4-month time course, using validated measurement tools (Jebsen test of hand function, nine-hole peg test, and three functional activities of daily living).