A patient has sustained a stroke and exhibits a flexion synergy pattern in both upper and lower extremities. What joint patterns are expected?

The correct response reflects the common presentations of flexion synergy patterns following a stroke, particularly in the upper and lower extremities. In a flexion synergy, certain joint movements become linked, often creating predictable patterns of posturing or movement that can emerge due to neurological dysfunction.

For the upper extremity, flexion synergy typically involves shoulder flexion, internal rotation, and elbow flexion. This is representative of the baseline tendency for muscles to activate together in the context of a stroke, where the neuromuscular control has been disrupted, resulting in certain muscle groups becoming dominant. In a flexion synergy, the underlying trunk and upper arm muscles tend to contract together, promoting a more "flexed" posture.

In the lower extremity, the flexion pattern generally includes hip flexion, adduction, and internal rotation. The synergy results in a combined contraction of hip flexors and adductor muscles, leading to a characteristic posture of adducted and internally rotated hips along with flexed knees.

This pattern is different from other options that suggest either extension patterns or combinations of abduction and external rotation, which are not typical of flexion synergy. Understanding these synergy patterns is crucial for rehabilitation, as therapists often develop strategies to counteract these dominant patterns