Article

Chronic hemiparetic stroke individuals are at a higher risk of
falling. This may be due to balance impairments, cardiovascular deconditioning,
and muscle weakness associated with stroke effects. Postural instability
associated with fatigue would likely be attained more rapidly for stroke
individuals than for healthy individuals. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of
physical exertion induced by walking on postural stability in hemiparetic stroke
participants. METHODS: Twelve hemiparetic participants and 12 control
participants walked over-ground for a duration of 6 min and 18 min at their
comfortable speed. Postural stability was assessed using centre of pressure
related parameters during double-legged stance and tasks before the walk,
immediately after the walk, 15 min post-walk, and 30 min post-walk. Measures of
physical exertion during walking were also obtained from cardiorespiratory
parameters, time-distance parameters, and subjective scales. Variables on
postural stability and on physical exertion were analyzed using two-way repeated
measures ANOVA and Generalized Estimating Equations. RESULTS: Physical exertion
measures significantly increased when the duration of walk was increased from 6
min to 18 min in both control and hemiparetic participants. For postural
stability measures, increasing the duration of walking led to a significant
increase of postural sway in double-legged stance and sit-to-stand for the
hemiparetic participants only. This effect on balance of hemiparetic participants
was observed immediately after the end of the walk. CONCLUSION: This study
demonstrated that physical exertion can increase postural sway in hemiparetic
participants which could possibly lead to an increased risk of falling in these
individuals.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS