Objective: To investigate chronological change of uninvolved hand function in hemiplegic patients and to assess any correlation between the improvement in Jebsen hand function test (JHFT) and modified Barthel index (MBI) and between the improvement in hand power and modified Barthel index. Method: JHFT, MBI and hand power measurement were done twice on twenty hemiplegic patients. Initial test were done after 36.5±18.2 days from onset and follow-up interval were 28.2±7.2 days. Results: We could find statistically significant time shortening in JHFT (p＜0.01) and power increment (p＜0.05) of uninvolved hands. None of MBI was normalized except for feeding. Majority were not normalized in JHFT. Patients who improved in stacking checkers in JHFT and in lateral pinch power showed improvement in total MBI score. But any correlation between the improvement in other items of JHFT and each items of MBI and between the improvement in hand power and each items of MBI were not found. Conclusion: Not normalized uninvolved hand function of the majority in the follow-up test proved the necessity of active rehabilitation on the uninvolved hand in acute stage. Generally there was no correlation between the improvement in JHFT and MBI, and between the improvement in HP and MBI.

Objective: To investigate chronological change of uninvolved hand function in hemiplegic patients and to assess any correlation between the improvement in Jebsen hand function test (JHFT) and modified Barthel index (MBI) and between the improvement in hand power and modified Barthel index. Method: JHFT, MBI and hand power measurement were done twice on twenty hemiplegic patients. Initial test were done after 36.5±18.2 days from onset and follow-up interval were 28.2±7.2 days. Results: We could find statistically significant time shortening in JHFT (p＜0.01) and power increment (p＜0.05) of uninvolved hands. None of MBI was normalized except for feeding. Majority were not normalized in JHFT. Patients who improved in stacking checkers in JHFT and in lateral pinch power showed improvement in total MBI score. But any correlation between the improvement in other items of JHFT and each items of MBI and between the improvement in hand power and each items of MBI were not found. Conclusion: Not normalized uninvolved hand function of the majority in the follow-up test proved the necessity of active rehabilitation on the uninvolved hand in acute stage. Generally there was no correlation between the improvement in JHFT and MBI, and between the improvement in HP and MBI.

Jebsen hand function test, Modified Barthel index, Hemiplegia, Uninvolved hand, Recovery