A list of common and interesting stroke symptoms. Not an exhausted list! http://plasticphysio.wordpress.com/

Motor and sensory

Hemiplegia Total paralysis of the arm, trunk and leg on one side of the body. Occurs contralateral to the side of the infarct. Hemiparesis is a similar term that refers to a weakness on side of the body.

Hemisensory deficits Decreased sensory awareness of one side of the body. Often occurs in a boot or glove like distribution Often assessed with light touch with Pt required to call out the side being touched Don’t forget other senses: pain, proprioception, temperature, etc.

Apraxia Loss of the ability to carry out learned movements A disorder of motor planning, Pt will have the desire and motor ability to complete the task

Ataxia Disturbed movement coordination Pt may look drunk, think ataxia or check the alcohol hand gel Lesions usually located within cerebellum or brainstem

Lateropulsion A tendency move or lean sideways involuntarily

Vision and perception

Neglect Pt acts as if one side of space does not exist This is with the absence of visual deficits More commonly seen with right- sided infarcts

Homonymous hemianopia Blindness or reduction of vision in one half of the visual field Occurs on the same side of both eyes

Quadrantanopia A defect of the visual field that effects just a quarter of the field.

Tactile agnosia Agnosia is a loss of ability to recognize things without defective senses or memory. Tactile agnosia refers to the loss of the ability to recognise things by touch.

Diplopia Double vision

Nystagmus Rapid eye movements in one direction, alternating with a slower movement in the opposite direction

Language and communication

Aphasia Inability to communicate Receptive or fluent aphasia, inability to understand language in its written or spoken form. Expressive or non-fluent aphasia, inability to generate speech.

Dysarthia Motor disorder of speech Characterised by poor articulation Pt finds it difficult to produce or sustain range, force, speed an coordination of movements to articulate

Other

Anosognosia A deficit of self-awareness, A person who suffers certain disability seems unaware of the existence of his or her disability.

Aprosodia Inability of a person to properly convey or interpret emotional context

Dysphagia Difficulty with swallowing due lack of control and coordination of the muscles involved

Alexia Acquired dyslexia

Aboulia Refers to a lack of will or initiative Can be seen as a disorder of diminished motivation

Vertigo Dizziness in which the Pt inappropriate experiences the perception of motion. Associated with nausea and vommiting

References Stokes M and Stack E (2011) Physical Management for Neurological Conditions (Third Edition). Edinburgh: Elsevier