Somatosensory loss after stroke

Abstract

This article reviews evidence on the nature of stroke impairment, functional implications of sensory loss, and recent developments in measurement and intervention. Approximately 50% of stroke patients experience sensory impairment, especially of tactile and proprioceptive discriminations. The impairment has negative implications for exploration of environment, safety, movement, and rehabilitation outcomes. Recent research has advanced from the previous lack of standardized, quantitative assessments suitable for stroke patients and demonstrated effective retraining of somatosensations when current concepts of neurophysiology and learning are employed. Clinically and statistically significant ..