Assessment of changes in muscle mass, strength, and quality and activities of daily living in elderly stroke patients

Whether poststroke rehabilitation improves muscle mass and quality along with the recovery of muscle strength is not clear. In this study, we examined the changes in muscle strength, muscle mass, and muscle quality in patients undergoing poststroke rehabilitation and assessed the relationship of these variables with improvement in activities of daily living (ADL). This prospective study was conducted at stroke rehabilitation unit in Japan. Muscle mass and quality were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). ADLs were assessed using the functional independence measure (FIM). Grip strength of the nonaffected and affected sides was measured using hand dynamometer. All measurements were performed at admission to the stroke rehabilitation unit and at 4 weeks thereafter. We assessed changes in motor FIM items and examined the relationships among the measured variables. This study included 179 patients. Patients received stroke rehabilitation 7 days a week individually. Muscle strength and quality significantly increased after 4 weeks on both the sides. Muscle mass decreased after 4 weeks; however, there was no significant difference between the two time points. Changes in muscle strength and quality showed a significant correlation with improvement in ADLs [r = 0.66 (male), 0.45 (female) and 0.55 (male), 0.31 (female), respectively]; however, muscle mass showed no correlation with improvement in ADLs. Poststroke rehabilitation improves muscle strength and quality, as well as ADLs. Muscle mass is not an appropriate measure to assess the effects of stroke rehabilitation; it is desirable to instead use muscle strength and quality to assess stroke rehabilitation.