Article

The main patterns characterizing standing posture of hemiparetic patients
include: weight-bearing asymmetry (WBA), larger postural sway, asymmetrical
contribution of lower limbs to balance control, and increased visual dependency
to balance control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of
decreasing WBA with the use of a shoe lift, on quiet standing postural control in
patients with chronic stroke. Twenty-seven patients participated in this study.
Patients completed two tests: 1) quiet standing; and 2) quiet standing while a
lift was placed under the non-paretic limb. The following tests were completed on
force plates for evaluation: asymmetry of the balance measures (weight bearing,
root mean square (RMS) of anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) center
of pressure (COP) velocity), RMS of total AP and ML COP velocity, and AP and ML
Romberg quotients. Paired t-tests were used to analyze the data. The mean value
of WBA index decreased significantly after using a lift (p < 0.05). However, the
changes of the mean value of other postural control parameters were not
significant (p > 0.05). The results indicate that there may not be an association
between decreased WBA and improved postural control during quiet standing in
patients with stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS