Breaking Update: Here’s a clear explanation of the latest developments related to Breaking News:Stroke Trunk Control and Muscle Stiffness– What Just Happened and why it matters right now.
STROKE trunk control in acute ischemic stroke may be closely linked to resting posterior trunk muscle tone and stiffness.
New findings suggest that resting mechanical properties of specific trunk muscles may offer early insight into trunk control and disability in patients with acute ischemic stroke. In this cross-sectional study, researchers examined whether resting tone and stiffness in selected muscles correlated with trunk control in survivors assessed within 72 hours of symptom onset.
Stroke Trunk Control and Posterior Trunk Muscles
Trunk control is widely recognized as an early indicator of functional and motor recovery after acute ischemic stroke, yet the contribution of individual trunk muscles has remained unclear. To explore this, the investigators assessed 30 acute ischemic stroke survivors using the Trunk Impairment Scale for trunk control and the modified Rankin Scale for global disability.
Resting tone and stiffness were measured in the Longissimus Thoracis, Lumbar Multifidus, Trapezius, and Rectus Femoris muscles. The analysis showed that Trunk Impairment Scale scores were strongly correlated with Longissimus Thoracis tone, Longissimus Thoracis stiffness, and Lumbar Multifidus stiffness. A more moderate correlation was seen with Lumbar Multifidus tone. By contrast, no significant association was identified between trunk control and Trapezius tone or Rectus Femoris stiffness.
Longissimus Thoracis Emerges as a Key Marker
Among the muscles studied, the Longissimus Thoracis appeared most closely linked to clinical status. Its stiffness showed a strong negative correlation with modified Rankin Scale grade, indicating that greater stiffness was associated with lower disability. Regression analyses further identified both Longissimus Thoracis tone and Longissimus Thoracis stiffness as significant independent predictors of trunk control.
These findings suggest that the resting viscoelastic profile of posterior trunk muscles, particularly the Longissimus Thoracis, may reflect an important component of early post stroke function. The authors noted that the anatomical role of this muscle in trunk stability may help explain its stronger association with trunk control compared with the other muscles evaluated.
Implications for Early Rehabilitation
This study adds to the understanding of stroke trunk control by showing that resting muscle properties may have clinical relevance very early after symptom onset. Higher Longissimus Thoracis stiffness was associated with better trunk control and lower global disability, raising the possibility that this measure could serve as an early marker of functional recovery.
The authors concluded that posterior trunk muscles, especially the Longissimus Thoracis, may represent useful assessment targets in acute stroke rehabilitation. Further research will be needed to determine whether these measurements can help guide rehabilitation planning or identify patients most likely to benefit from early targeted interventions.
Reference
Polat H et al. Impact of resting muscle tone and stiffness in acute stroke survivors: which muscles’ tone correlates with trunk control? A cross-sectional study. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2026;DOI:10.1080/10749357.2026.2651793.
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