Article

Unsupported sitting requires postural stability of the trunk which is also
necessary for almost all activities in daily living, yet there is a lack of
research dealing with the persistence of trunk impairment post-stroke using quantitative methodologies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to
investigate unsupported sitting in individuals with chronic stroke by analyzing
center of pressure (COP) signals from a force platform. Ten healthy control
subjects and ten chronic stroke subjects sat on a chair without a footrest that
was placed on top of a force platform. Trials consisted of eyes closed, staring
at a target, and COP feedback. COP signals were analyzed using spatial and
temporal techniques. Compared to controls, stroke group had larger sway area and
larger displacements in all conditions (p<0.05) and less sample entropy (p<0.05)
in eyes closed and target conditions. In feedback conditions, both groups had
decreased sway area and maximum displacements along with stroke group having
increased sample entropy (p<0.05). Our data suggest that trunk control, necessary
for unsupported sitting, is impaired well into the chronic stage of stroke onset.
Further investigations of sitting should be conducted for better understanding
balance deficits under conditions localized to the trunk musculature.
CI - Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS