ISSN: 2456-3102
Bharati Taklsande
Background and Objectives: Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability. Functional impairment in stroke patients is primarily because of brain lesion that causes loss of foot dorsiflexion and eversion. The attained foot position leads to the continuous stretch, nerve traction or compression of common peroneal nerve resulting in neuropathy. The main objective was to study whether the continuous everted position of the paralyzed foot in hemiplegic patients in the initial first week causes injury to common peroneal nerve at the fibular head. Method: Case control study. The control of the study was the non-paralyzed limb of the same patient. All the stroke patients within 7 days of the onset underwent nerve conduction studies on affected and normal limb. Results: The study showed the prolongation of distal motor latency in cases as compared to control and in those patients with power of grade 3 and lesser. Conclusion: The electrophysiological changes in the common peroneal nerve starts in the initial 7 days of the stroke development especially causing prolongation of latency. Rehabilitation of stroke patients, physiotherapist should focus on taking care of foot drop which occurs commonly due to peroneal neuropathy by providing them orthotics.