Modulation of finger blood flow during concentrated finger perception in stroke patients

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350570
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: MURATA Jun 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(保健学科), 准教授 (00304428)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 脳卒中片麻痺 / 高齢者 / 手指感覚 / 皮膚血流 / 触圧覚閾値 / 循環調節 / 点字解読

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hand function is affected by neurological disturbance such as a stroke. We hypothesized that the changes in blood flow of the finger during concentrated finger perception reflect the severity of sensory impairment. To identify this hypothesis, we measured finger skin blood flow (FSBF) during Braille reading performed under the blind condition and tactile-pressure threshold in stroke patients. The tactile-pressure threshold showed a significant difference between the affected and unaffected hand. FSBF was decreased during Braille reading. However, the responses of FSBF observed at the affected side were much greater than those seen at the unaffected side (affected side: -11±9%, unaffected side: -5±10%). Moreover, a significant relationship was observed between the change in FSBF and tactile-pressure threshold (r = -0.44). These findings suggest that the modulation of finger skin blood flow during a tactile discrimination task is related to sensory impairment after stroke.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学