The value of various brain pathways impairment in the post-stroke rehabilitation of walking function

Abstract

Corticospinal tract (CST) is the major brain pathway yieldingmotor activity; however, functional role of the CST and other pathwaysin the implementation of such a socially important functionas walking in patients with stroke is not completely clear. Followingthe CST lesion the process of recovery involves not only CST onboth sides but also other pathways, including the extrapyramidaltracts: corticoreticular (CRP) and corticorubrospinal (CRSP)pathways. With the help of modern neurovisualization methods weshowed that Wallerian degeneration of the CST is not the only predictorof poor recovery of motor function after stroke, whereas acompensatory increase in fiber volume of CRP on the oppositeside may improve recovery of affected leg. Further studies of thefunctional significance of brain pathways including the CRP andCRSP in the recovery of post-stroke walking function will clarifyth mechanisms of neuroplasticity and predictors of recovery tooptimize the personalized approach to rehabilitation.

Keywords

• brain pathways
• walking function
• neuroplasticity
• stroke