Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2025

Mapping the role of somatosensation in arm function across the continuum. From somatosensation to sensorimotor function, arm use and participation after stroke. A scoping review. (#133)

Sarah Steinfort 1 2 , Leeanne M Carey 1 2 , Yvonne Y. K Mak-Yuen 1 2 , Beverley C Larssen 3 , Cheryl Neilson 4 , Allison Luscombe 5 , Claire Dalliston 1 , Tamara Wanklyn 6 , Maryam Zoghi 7
  1. La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
  2. The Florey, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
  3. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  4. La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
  5. Physiotherapy Department, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia
  6. Occupational Therapy, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
  7. Federation University, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

 

Background: To explore the range of standardised measures which have been used to profile arm function after stroke; from somatosensory function to sensorimotor function, arm use and participation.

Methods: Studies were included if they had a standardised measure of somatosensation of the upper limb, in combination with a standardised measure of sensorimotor function, arm use and/or participation. Ten databases were searched. Outcome measures were classified relative to the International Classification of Functioning continuum and somatosensory function was categorised according to which somatosensory modality was assessed.

Results: The scoping review included 393 studies. The majority of studies (75.3%) measured somatosensation and sensorimotor function only; 18.3% of studies included a measure of somatosensation, sensorimotor function and real-world arm use; and 3.6% of studies additionally included a measure of participation.  For somatosensory modalities, 49.6% of studies evaluated tactile sensation, 39.7% measuredproprioception, 12.2% measured haptic object recognition, 28.8% utilised a test with two or more modalities summed, and 9.2% of studies used neurophysiological tests.

Conclusion: Whilst somatosensory function was commonly tested concurrently with a measure of observed sensorimotor function, somatosensation was not commonly tested with a measure of real-world arm use or participation.  This may hinder a comprehensive understanding of how somatosensory impairments affect real-world activities and participation.