The aim of this study was to assess the spatial stability of stroke patients while holding a freely movable object. Twenty-two acute stroke patients with mild hand impairment performed a grip and lift task using the thumb and index finger. The displacement of the center of pressure (COP) trajectory, the grip force (GF) and several clinical parameters were monitored. Although the GF was not different between paretic and nonparetic hands, the COP trajectory of the paretic index finger was increased. Moreover, the COP trajectories of the thumb and index finger in hemorrhagic patients were longer than those in ischemic patients. These discrepancies between kinetic parameters suggest that different aspects of grip force control may be considered in patients with mild stroke.
Keywords: Center of pressure; Grip force; Precision grasp; Stroke.