Muscular atrophy in the hemiplegic thigh in patients after stroke

Objectives: This study evaluated muscular atrophy in the hemiplegic limbs by assessing the muscle volume of the thighs in stroke patients. Design: Muscle volume of the bilateral thighs was determined by computed tomographic scanning in 50 hemiplegic patients after stroke. Results: The average muscle volume in the hemiplegic side was significantly lower than that in the nonhemiplegic side. When the patients were divided into the two groups aged <65 yr old and greater than or equal to65 yr, age-dependent reduction in the muscle volume was significant only in the nonhemiplegic side. In addition, the ratio of the muscle volume in the hemiplegic side to that in the nonhemiplegic side was significantly lower in the older group than in the younger group. Muscle volume in both hemiplegic and nonhemiplegic sides correlated ositively with Barthel index and negatively with patient age. Conclusion: Muscle volume decreases in the hemiplegic side in stroke patients.