Background: Stroke patients exhibit arm global synkinesis (GS), involuntary movement due to muscle weakness and irregular muscle tension. But currently there are few studies examined the effects of GS on activates of daily living in stroke patients.
Objectives: To investigate the effects the effects of task-oriented bilateral movements, which promote brain plasticity and are based on neurological theory, using the unaffected arm and the affected arm.
Design: Quasi-randomized trial.
Methods: Twenty stroke patients were randomly assigned to experimental group I (n=10) and experimental group II (n=10). Before the intervention, arm GS was measured using surface electromyography, and the Motor Activity Log evaluated the quantitative and qualitative uses of the affected arm in daily life. The same items were measured four weeks later.
Results: The changes in the GS of the arm of experimental group I showed statistically significant differences only in bending motions (P<.05). Both groups showed statistically significant differences in the amount of use (AOU) and the quality of movement (QOM) scores (P<.01). Comparing the groups, statistically significant differences in GS appeared during bending motions (P<.05), and in the AOU (P<.01) and the QOM scores (P<.05).
Conclusion: The intervention in GS reduced the abnormal muscle tension of the affected side by increasing the use of the ipsilateral motor pathway, indicating its effectiveness in improving upper limb functions with smooth contraction and relaxation of the muscles.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
    Subjects
    Outcome Measures
    Interventions
    Data and Statistical Analysis
RESULTS
    Changes in arm GS and daily life in experimental group I
    Changes in arm GS and daily life in experimental group II
    Changes in arm GS and daily life between the groups
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REfERENCES

• Jeongil Kang(Department of Physical Therapy, Sehan University)
• Seungyun Baek(Department of Physical Therapy, Sehan University)