in stroke patient, hand functions is usually affected, I am wondering if you have experienced a good method to evaluate hand functions in stroke patient?
The physical examination of the hand function may be tried such as flexion, extension, circumduction, pronation and supination at the wrirst joint or the normal movements of the hand which a normal person can do should be tested in the patient with stroke. In addition flexion and extension of the fingers and the digits can also be tested. Furthermore the ability of a stroke patient to hold the pen and write could also be a clinical test which could be tested in a stroke patient, The ability to hold a pen properly is a test for a particular group of muscles called lumbricles.
What do you want to explore : deficiency or prehension function ?
- for tonus, you could use Ashworth or better Tardieu scale
- for prehension capability, Nine Hole Peg Test is also a good one. you could find some others tests in this website (http://www.strokengine.ca/assess_domain/assess-up-ext/)
In addition please consider at the Box and Block Test derived from Mathiowetz et al, 1985 , Action Research Arm Test and the Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT)
Look at www.rehabmeasures.org/Lists/RehabMeasures for links