APRAXIA
SUMMARY
1. Apraxia is the loss of the ability to carry out programmed or planned movements despite adequate understanding of the tasks, intact motor power, sensation & coordination.
2. Occurs in up to 30% of strokes in the acute phase.
3. It is an impairment in selecting and organizing the motor innervations needed to execute an action[1].
4. Apraxia is not a low-level motor disturbance but rather a high level defect in motor planning, which involves the integrative steps that precede skilled or learned movements[2].
5. Anatomical correlations:
- Left parietal or frontal premotor areas are most commonly associated with apraxia
- Orobuccal apraxia usually associated with insular and left inferior frontal lesions
- Other areas: right parietal lobe, temporal and even subcortical regions
6. Screened using the TULIA UL apraxia test (12 items tested).
Reference(s)
Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.
