ABSTRACT

Objective: There has been observed that the degree of functional recovery is higher than non-dominant hand if the dominant hand paralyzed after a stroke. In Korean research context, there has not been enough research conducted on this issue. This study has therefore tried to explore the changes in functional recovery due to dominant hand paralysis by using a retrospective cohort survey to provide information to an occupational therapy intervention strategy. Methods: After recruiting primary subjects(n=205) from five medical institutions, we investigated subjects' general characteristics and stroke-related characteristics such as applied evaluation tools. Subjects who have admitted from onset to initial evaluation within 6 months were excluded. Information about the assessment records were collected from the secondary subjects(n=122). Six evaluation tools(Modified Barthel Index, Maunual Function Test, Hand Strength Test, Nine-Hole Pegboard Test, Functional Independence Measure, Box and Block Test) were selected through the frequency analysis for the assessment tool applied to the secondary subjects. Results: The assessment results of HST, NHP and BBT(p<.001) along with assessment period in MBI(p<.05) depending on the existence of dominant hand paralysis showed statistical difference. However, no interaction effect between the existence of dominant hand paralysis and assessment period. The changes on the assessment value of HST and BBT showed that the paralyzed dominant hand group was higher and statistically significant(p<.05) than the non-dominant hand group. Conclusion: We hope that the results of this study could be applied to various occupational therapy intervention strategies for hemiplegic patients due to stroke in the future.