Why do arms take longer to recover after a stroke?

BONUS EPISODE: One of the most persistent frustrations for stroke survivors is the "recovery gap." It often feels as though the legs are eager to return to work, while the arm remains stubbornly silent. You might find yourself able to stand or take those first precarious steps, yet still struggle to grasp a cup of coffee or button a shirt.Sources:[1] Abdullahi A, Wong TWL, Ng SSM. 2023.Variation in the rate of recovery in motor function between the upper and lower limbs in patients with stroke: some proposed hypotheses and their implications for research and practice. Frontiers in Neurology, 14:1225924.[2] Kolmos M, Munoz-Novoa M, Sunnerhagen K, Alt Murphy M, Kruuse C. 2025.Upper-extremity motor recovery after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of usual care in trials and observational studies. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 468, 123341. Powered by: Google NotebookLM