Article

OBJECTIVE: To confirm previous findings that hip abductor activity measured by
electromyography (EMG) on the side contralateral to cane use is reduced during
walking in stroke patients. To assess whether an orthosis (TheraTogs) or hip
abductor taping increase hemiplegic hip abductor activity compared with activity
during cane walking or while walking without aids. To investigate the effect of
each condition on temporo-spatial gait parameters. DESIGN: Randomized,
within-participant experimental study. SETTING: Gait laboratory. SUBJECTS:
Thirteen patients following first unilateral stroke. INTERVENTION: Data
collection over six gait cycles as subjects walked at self-selected speed during:
baseline (without aids) and in randomized order with (1) hip abductor taping, (2)
TheraTogs, (3) cane in non-hemiplegic hand. MAIN MEASURES: Peak EMG of gluteus
medius and tensor fascia lata and temporo-spatial gait parameters. RESULTS: Cane
use reduced EMG activity in gluteus medius from baseline by 21.86%. TheraTogs
increased it by 16.47% (change cane use-TheraTogs P = 0.001, effect size = -0.5)
and tape by 5.8% (change cane use-tape P = 0.001, effect size = -0.46). In tensor
fascia lata cane use reduced EMG activity from baseline by 19.14%. TheraTogs also
reduced EMG activity from baseline by 1.10% (change cane use-TheraTogs P = 0.009,
effect size -0.37) and tape by 3% (not significant). Gait speed (m/s) at:
baseline 0.44, cane use 0.45, tape 0.48, TheraTogs 0.49. CONCLUSION: Hip abductor
taping and TheraTogs increase hemiplegic hip abductor activity and gait speed
during walking compared with baseline and cane use.

Langue : ANGLAIS