Article

Persons with poststroke hemiparesis are characterized by asymmetry in limb
loading (LL) and limb unloading (LU), which has been reported in static and
quasi-static tasks but has not been quantified during walking. The purpose of
this study was to determine the asymmetry in magnitude and duration of LL and LU
in individuals with hemiparesis and its relationship with functional walking
status and specific kinematic and kinetic variables during walking. Forty-four
participants with chronic hemiparesis walked at their self-selected speeds and
eighteen nondisabled control subjects of similar ages walked at predetermined
matched speeds while three-dimensional ground reaction forces and body-segment
kinematics were recorded. Magnitude of paretic LL was reduced, while duration was
increased compared with the nonparetic leg and nondisabled controls walking at
matched speeds. The paretic LL and LU was significantly correlated with average
leg angle, while the nonparetic leg significantly correlated with average knee
angle. Three different patterns of LL and LU were identified (concave, convex,
and linear). Individuals with hemiparesis make several biomechanical adjustments
that minimize LL of the paretic leg. LL deviations were more pronounced with
increased lateral placement of the paretic foot and with decreased functional
gait speed. Characterization of these deviations may inspire new strategies for
rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS