Effect of Decreased Skeletal Muscle Index and Hand Grip Strength on Functional Recovery in Subacute Ambulatory Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of decreased Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) and hand grip strength on functional recovery in subacute ambulatory stroke patients. METHODS: Subacute stroke patients who were referred to the rehabilitation center were recruited. Decreased SMI and hand grip strength were diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia. Diagnostic criteria were decreased SMI and decreased unaffected hand grip strength. SMI was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Unaffected hand grip strength was measured with a hand dynamometer. Patients were divided into two groups, decreased group (DG) and not-decreased group (NDG), according to the presence of decreased SMI and hand grip strength. Both groups received conventional stroke rehabilitation for 3 weeks. All patients were evaluated at the baseline and at 3 weeks after treatment. Functional status was evaluated with 4-meter walk test (4MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI). RESULTS: Both groups showed improvement in 4MWT, TUG, and MBI. NDG showed improvement in 6MWT. Comparing improvements between the two groups, NDG showed more improvement in 6MWT and TUG than DG. CONCLUSION: The presence of decreased SMI and hand grip strength had negative effects on functional recovery in subacute ambulatory stroke patients.