The bilateral movement condition facilitates maximal but not submaximal paretic-limb grip force in people with post-stroke hemiparesis

► Although healthy individuals produce less force during bilateral muscle contractions compared to unilateral contractions, emerging evidence suggests that the paretic limb post-stroke may benefit from bilateral movement. ► The bilateral condition increased maximal grip force on the paretic side in the majority of people with post-stroke hemiparesis, but decreased maximal grip forces on the non-paretic side and on both sides of healthy controls. ► In a submaximal bilateral grip task, as might be expected during daily activities, there was no enhancement of paretic-limb performance.