Stroke is a global health problem that is the second commonest cause of death and fourth leading cause of disability worldwide. WHO defines stroke as ‘The rapid development of clinical signs and symptoms of a focal neurological disturbance lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death with no apparent cause other than vascular origin’. Stroke can be ischaemic or haemorrhagic depending upon its etiological factor. Ischaemic stroke are caused by interruption of the blood supply to the brain, while haemorrhagic stroke result from the rupture of a blood vessel or an abnormal vascular structure inside the brain.

Depending on the severity of the stroke, the patient may experience numbness and weakness on one side of the body. There are many symptoms of stroke, but for this article focusing on hand. After a stroke, damage to the one hemisphere of the brain can block messages between muscles and the brain. For this, arm and hand muscles will be affected. This will limit coordination and muscle movement of hand. Strength of the hand muscles also may be affected. People who have suffered stroke often experience hand impairment, including significant delays in how long it takes to grip and release objects. This type of hand is also termed as paretic hand. 

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