A review of motor recovery mechanisms in patients with stroke.

Elucidation of the motor recovery mechanisms in stroke patients is important because such information could provide the scientific basis for stroke rehabilitation. The motor recovery mechanism after stroke, however, has not yet been clearly elucidated, but several suggested mechanisms have been proposed. These include the ipsilateral motor pathway from the unaffected motor cortex to the affected hand, peri-lesional reorganization, the recovery of a damaged lateral corticospinal tract, and contribution of the secondary motor area. Additionally, little is known about the motor recovery mechanism for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, for locomotor recovery, and for damage at the subcortical level. Therefore, we suggest that further research should be focused on the elucidation of motor recovery mechanisms in relation to the above topics. In the current study, we tried to review the literatures about the motor recovery mechanisms of the patients with stroke.