Proprioception and spatial neglect after stroke.

Proprioception and neglect were studied in 287 patients surviving up to one week after the onset of their stroke. The presence of proprioceptive loss indicated a more extensive lesion and a larger proportion of these patients had impairment of intellectual function, motor power in the upper and lower limb, and postural function. Proprioceptive loss also had an adverse effect on the level of independence achieved by discharge, final placement, mortality and length of stay in hospital. In 87% of the survivors recovery of proprioception had occurred by eight weeks. Significant neglect was associated with high mortality and poor outcome for functional recovery.