Int J Physiother Res 2017;5(1):1885-92. ISSN 2321-1822 1885 Original Research Article EFFECT OF W EIGHTED HAND M OVEM ENTS ON HAND FUNCTION IN CHRONIC STROKE PATIENTS Hoda M . Zakaria 1 ,Walaa M . Ragab 2 , Olfat I. Ali *3 . 1 Assistant professor at Department of physical therapy for neuromuscular disorders and its surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt. 2 Lecturer at Department of physical therapy for neuromuscular disorders and its surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt. *3 lecturer at Basic science department for Physical Therapy. Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Egypt Background: Hand dysfunction is a common problem of stroke patients and it is the main cause of impairment of the upper limb. Finding new method to improve hand performance will decrease the disability of chronic stroke patients. Aim of the study: to study the effect of bilateral hand training with weight on the non paretic hand on the hand performance and time of performance in chronic stroke patients. M aterials and M ethods: Thirty left chronic stroke patients participated in this study. The patients were assigned randomly into two equal groups. Group one (G1) received unilateral hand training and group two (G2) received bilateral hand training with weight on non affected hand. Both groups assessed two times before starting training program and after two months of training by Fugl meyer assessment scale, Wolf motor function test and hand dynamometer for the motor performance, time of performance and hand grip respectively. Results : the patients in G2 showed significant improvement in the hand performance (P<.0001) and significant decrease in the time of performance (P<.001) and also significant improvement of hand grip (P<.0001). Conclusion: Bilateral hand movement with weight on the non affected hand has a significant effect on improving hand performance and decreasing the time of performance and increasing hand grip than unilateral hand movement. KEY W ORDS : bilateral hand training, hand function, stroke. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Address for correspondence: Dr. Olfat I. Ali, lecturer at Basic science department for Physical Therapy. Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Egypt E-M ail: olfat_ib @yahoo.com International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research, Int J Physiother Res 2017, Vol 5(1):1885-92. ISSN 2321-1822 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijpr.2016.214 Quick Response code Access this Article online International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research ISSN 2321- 1822 www.ijmhr.org/ ijpr.html DOI: 10.16965/ ijpr.2016.214 Received: 20-12-2016 Peer Review: 21-12-2016 Revised: None Accepted: 28-01-2017 Published (O): 11-02-2017 Published (P): 11-02-2017 individuals continue with residual motor dysfunction as a long-term disability after the first year especially. The chronic motor problems lead to difficulty in the execution of functional movements especially hand functions [2] . Distal limb impairment is especially problem- atic, because proper hand function is crucial to Voluntary movement control is typically impaired after a stroke. Wrist and finger extensors are a challenging aspect of upper-extremity recovery. Hand function is severely affected after stroke due to the high presentation of hand in cerebral cortex [1] More than half of the poststroke