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Determinants of Mobility and Self-care in Older People With Stroke: Importance of Somatosensory and Perceptual Functions

AK Welmer, PT, MSc, is a doctoral student in the Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden, and the Vårdal Institute, Lund, Sweden.
M von Arbin, MD, PhD, is Senior Consultant and Head, Stroke Unit, Division of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
V Murray, MD, PhD, is Clinical Scientist and Consultant, Division of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet Danderyd Hospital.
L Widén Holmqvist, PT, PhD, is Associate Professor, Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.
DK Sommerfeld, PT, PhD, is Senior Physiotherapist, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden, and University Lecturer, Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

anna-karin.welmer{at}ki.se

Background and Purpose: Somatosensory as well as mental impairments are easily overlooked after acute stroke. Furthermore, their associations with activity limitations are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine this association and whether the assessment of somatosensory functions will provide information on perceptual functions after acute stroke.

Subjects and Methods: In 115 subjects who were 65 years of age, the following parameters were assessed 5 days after stroke: somatosensory (touch and proprioceptive), perceptual, and cognitive functions; depressive symptoms; mobility; and self-care.

Results: Multivariate analyses showed that normal proprioceptive function was significantly associated with better mobility. Normal perceptual and touch functions were significantly associated with better self-care. Subjects with normal proprioceptive function were 8.6 times as likely to have normal perceptual function as subjects with proprioceptive impairment.

Discussion and Conclusion: Somatosensory and perceptual functions were significantly associated with subjects' activity levels. Normal proprioceptive function also might indicate normal perceptual function.

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