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Although progressive hemiparesis occurs frequently in acute ischemic stroke, the topography and mechanisms associated with progressive motor deficit (PMD) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the differences in PMD according to lesion location and the presumed underlying pathogenesis in patients with lacunar motor syndrome. Consecutive patients experiencing acute lacunar motor syndrome within 24 hours of stroke onset were included. Topographic patterns, risk factors, and presumed stroke mechanisms were compared between patients with PMD and those without PMD. Of the 168 patients in the study group, 47 (28.0%) had PMD. Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (P = .034) and female sex (P = .005) were associated with PMD on univariate analysis. Deep perforating artery infarct was more frequently associated with PMD (35.8%) compared with large artery disease (27.3%) and cardioembolism (5.3%). Multiple logistic analysis found that deep perforating artery infarct was independently associated with PMD (odds ratio, 2.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-6.5; P = .012). Deep perforating artery infarct is the major cause of PMD. In patients with lacunar syndrome, the pattern of PMD varies according to the location and etiology of stroke., (Copyright © 2011 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the effect of visual and kinesthetic locomotor imagery training on walking performance and to determine the clinical feasibility of incorporating auditory step rhythm into the training., Design: Randomized crossover trial., Setting: Laboratory of a Department of Physical Therapy., Subjects: Fifteen subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis., Intervention: Four locomotor imagery trainings on walking performance: visual locomotor imagery training, kinesthetic locomotor imagery training, visual locomotor imagery training with auditory step rhythm and kinesthetic locomotor imagery training with auditory step rhythm., Main Outcome Measures: The timed up-and-go test and electromyographic and kinematic analyses of the affected lower limb during one gait cycle., Results: After the interventions, significant differences were found in the timed up-and-go test results between the visual locomotor imagery training (25.69 ± 16.16 to 23.97 ± 14.30) and the kinesthetic locomotor imagery training with auditory step rhythm (22.68 ± 12.35 to 15.77 ± 8.58) (P < 0.05). During the swing and stance phases, the kinesthetic locomotor imagery training exhibited significantly increased activation in a greater number of muscles and increased angular displacement of the knee and ankle joints compared with the visual locomotor imagery training, and these effects were more prominent when auditory step rhythm was integrated into each form of locomotor imagery training. The activation of the hamstring during the swing phase and the gastrocnemius during the stance phase, as well as kinematic data of the knee joint, were significantly different for posttest values between the visual locomotor imagery training and the kinesthetic locomotor imagery training with auditory step rhythm (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The therapeutic effect may be further enhanced in the kinesthetic locomotor imagery training than in the visual locomotor imagery training. The auditory step rhythm together with the locomotor imagery training produces a greater positive effect in improving the walking performance of patients with post-stroke hemiparesis.