Stroke Trunk Control Tied to Muscle Stiffness

STROKE trunk control may be predicted by stiffness in key posterior trunk muscles, new research shows.

Investigators assessed 30 acute ischemic stroke survivors within 72 hours of symptom onset. They measured resting tone and stiffness in four muscles: Longissimus Thoracis, Lumbar Multifidus, Trapezius, and Rectus Femoris.

Results revealed strong correlations between trunk control and both Longissimus Thoracis tone and stiffness. This muscle's stiffness also negatively correlated with disability scores, suggesting better function with higher stiffness.

The Lumbar Multifidus showed moderate correlation with trunk control, while Trapezius and Rectus Femoris did not show significant links.

Researchers say these mechanical properties could help guide early rehabilitation strategies and predict functional outcomes.

The findings highlight the potential for using muscle-specific metrics as early biomarkers of recovery in stroke care.