Article

The role of ankle joint stiffness during gait in patients with
hemiparesis has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine
the contribution of quasi-joint stiffness of the ankle joint to spatiotemporal
and kinetic parameters regarding gait in patients with hemiparesis due to brain
tumor or stroke and healthy individuals. METHODS: Spatiotemporal and kinetic
parameters regarding gait in twelve patients with hemiparesis due to brain tumor
or stroke and nine healthy individuals were measured with a 3-dimensional motion
analysis system. Quasi-joint stiffness was calculated from the slope of the
linear regression of the moment-angle curve of the ankle joint during the second
rocker. FINDINGS: There was no significant difference in quasi-joint stiffness
among both sides of patients and the right side of controls. Quasi-joint
stiffness on the paretic side of patients with hemiparesis positively correlated
with maximal ankle power (r=0.73, P<0.01) and gait speed (r=0.66, P<0.05). In
contrast, quasi-joint stiffness in controls negatively correlated with maximal
ankle power (r=-0.73, P<0.05) and gait speed (r=-0.76, P<0.05). INTERPRETATION:
Our findings suggested that ankle power during gait might be generated by
increasing quasi-joint stiffness in patients with hemiparesis. In contrast,
healthy individuals might decrease quasi-joint stiffness to avoid deceleration of
forward tilt of the tibia. Our findings might be useful for selecting treatment
for increased ankle stiffness due to contracture and spasticity in patients with
hemiparesis.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS