Pusher Syndrome

A clinical disorder occurring in some stroke survivors in which the patient actively pushes their body weight away from the non-paralyzed (non-hemiparetic) side, leading to a severe loss of postural balance. Typically caused by damage to the left or right brain, pusher syndrome results in patients leaning and pushing toward the paralyzed side, which significantly increases fall risk and complicates rehabilitation. The condition affects postural control and the perception of body orientation relative to gravity. Posture monitoring technologies using accelerometers can help detect and alert patients and therapists to pushing behavior, supporting self-correction and more effective rehabilitation.