percent change of FM score correlated positively with percentchange of MEP amplitude of RF and GC.Conclusions: Electromechanical gait trainer is effective in pro-moting lower limb functional recovery in chronic hemipareticstroke, and central neural plasticity is underlying this recovery. Thiscan help to optimize the therapeutic approach in chronic strokerehabilitation with less number and facilitated work of the therapist.

Poster 317Central Neuroplasticity and Upper Limbs FunctionalOutcome Following Repetitive Lower LimbLocomotor Training in Stroke Patients.Tarek S. Shafshak, Professor (Faculty of Medicine, Alex-andria University, Alexandria, Egypt); Tarek S. Shafshak,MD.

Disclosures: T. S. Shafshak, No Disclosures.Objective: To explore the neurophysiological mechanism under-lying the effect of long-term repetitive locomotor training on tread-mill with partial body weight support (PBWS) in improving func-tion of the swinging and supported paretic upper limb.Design: Randomized, controlled study.Setting: PBWS treadmill training with swinging or supported up-per limbs.Participants: Thirty chronic hemiparetic stroke patients wereassigned to either one of 2 experimental conditions while trained for20 minutes on treadmill with PBWS for 8 weeks.Interventions: Patients under condition 1 received verbal cueingto perform bilateral upper limb swinging. In condition 2, patientswere instructed to support both upper limbs on treadmill handrails.Main Outcome Measures: Fugel-Meyer upper extremity mo-tor performance test (FM) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) ofparetic middle deltoid (D), biceps brachii (BB) and abductor pollicisbrevis (APB) were assessed before, immediately at end of programand at 3 months.Results: Both conditions resulted in increase of FM score. Group 1showed significant improvement of MEP variables (lower restingthreshold, shorter central motor conduction time and higher ampli-tude ratio) in the 3 tested muscles. Group 2 showed significantimprovement in MEP variables of APB muscle and increase of MEPamplitude of BB muscle only. Change of MEP threshold and ampli-tude of D and BB muscles were significantly higher in group 1patients than in group 2.Conclusions: Active bilateral upper limb swinging during tread-mill training is more effective in paretic upper limb motor recoverythan training with supported upper limbs. Central neural plasticityis underlying this recovery. Task-dependent neuronal couplingbetween lower and upper limb muscles during walking could bebeneficial in stroke rehabilitation.

Poster 318Effects of Manual Tracings of AcupunctureMeridians for Improvement of “Sense of Well Beingand Health”.Gouri Chaudhuri, MD (Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospi-tal & Clinics, Wheaton, IL, United States).

Disclosures: G. Chaudhuri, No Disclosures.Objective: The human body is a sensitive electromagnetic systemwhich generates electromagnetic fields. 1 Developments in Qigongand acupuncture research for the transfer of external energy (Qi)

from Qigong practitioner to another body to increase flow of energyhave been well established. 2-4 The objective of this study was toinvestigate the effects tracings of acupuncture meridians by handmay have on sense of well-being, stress level, fatigue level, andability to do daily life activities.Design: Prospective, randomized clinical study.Setting: Holistic outpatient clinic at a free standing rehabilitationhospital.Participants: Group 1, n�15, individuals in acupuncture merid-ian tracing group (experimental). Group 2, n�16, individuals incontrol group.Main Outcome Measures: 10-point visual analog scale wascompleted by both groups before and after interventions for: senseof well-being; fatigue level; stress level; emotional status; and abilityto do ADLS.Results: Group 1 (experimental group) mean improvement for�sense of well-being was 3 points vs. 1.4 in Group 2 (control group).Group 1 fatigue level improvement was 3.47 vs. 1.6 for Group 2.Stress level mean gain for Group 1 was 3.47 vs. 1.5 for Group 2.Mean gain of 2.3 points for ADLS in Group 1 vs. 0.19 in Group 2(P�.001).Conclusions: This simple, non-invasive and easily learned tech-nique resulted in improvements with sense of well-being, reductionin stress levels, improvements with fatigue levels, and ability to dodaily life activities with individuals without any acute medical orsurgical problems.

Poster 319Previously Undiagnosed Inclusion Body Myositis ina Rehabilitation Patient: A Case Report.Gregory Zakas, DO (University of Wisconsin, Madison,WI, United States).

Disclosures: G. Zakas, No Disclosures.Case Description: The patient is a 77-year-old man who wasadmitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit following a fall at homethat caused a small subarachnoid hemorrhage when his head struckthe floor. On his initial rehabilitation consultation, it was noted thatthe patient had significant weakness of his distal extremities. Thepatient and his wife stated that his regular doctor said this was from�arthritis.� He was noted to have no volitional movement in hisdistal or proximal interphalangeal joints and limited movement ofhis ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors. His proximal muscleswere much closer to full strength. After a week on the inpatientrehabilitation unit and spending more time examining the patient’sfunction, it became obvious that he was not progressing as expect-ing. Clinical suspicion led to evaluation for neuropathy and myop-athy.Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation unit.Results or Clinical Course: An EMG/NCS was performedwhich showed an active and severe myopathy with significantfibrosis as well as axonal and sensory distal polyneuropathy. Toclinch the diagnosis, a muscle biopsy was performed. Due to thepatient’s relative lack of muscle, an open biopsy of his deltoidwas chosen. Microscopy of the biopsy revealed inflammatorymyopathy with rimmed vacuoles consistent with inclusion bodymyositis.Discussion: Inclusion body myositis is the most common myop-athy of the elderly. Though common, it can easily be missed if its keyphysical findings are not recognized. While there is no treatment for

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