Upper Limb Apraxia.

Abstract

Limb apraxia is one of the most common and most disabling disorders caused by brain damage. However, apraxia is one of the least recognized disorders associated with cerebral disease. This article discusses the signs and symptoms of, means of testing for, the pathophysiology of, and possible management of upper limb apraxia. Upper limb apraxia has four major forms: ideomotor, limb-kinetic, conceptual, and ideational. Although recent findings are included in this article, a full understanding of these disorders, including the means of testing, their possible pathophysiology, and the diseases that may cause these disorders, requires that some older literature is also discussed. This article guides clinicians in testing for and diagnosing the different forms of upper limb apraxia, identifying the underlying diseases that may cause apraxia, managing the different forms of the disorder, and possible forms of rehabilitation.