Sunee Bovonsunthonchai. Correlation between clinical and biomehchanic cheracteristic of gait in individuals with stroke. Doctoral Degree(Physiotherapy ). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2008.
Correlation between clinical and biomehchanic cheracteristic of gait in individuals with stroke
Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between clinical
measures [muscle tone (hip adductors, hip extensors, knee extensors, ankle
plantarflexors, and ankle invertors), postural balance, and lower extremity motor
function] and gait performances [gait speeds (comfortable and fast) and symmetrical
gait variables (the first peak vertical and the second peak vertical forces, step, single
support, stance, and swing times)] in stroke patients. Additionally, gait biomechanic
characteristics at both gait speeds were compared among the control and the unaffected
and affected legs of stroke patients. Thirty controls and stroke subjects
participated in the study. ViconTM Motion Analysis System and AMTI force platform
were used for analyzing the gait biomechanic characteristics.
The results demonstrated significant (p<0.05) negative relationships between
lower extremity muscle tones and gait performances, while the postural balance and
lower extremity motor function showed significant (p<0.05) positive relationships
with the gait performances. Therefore, reduction of excessive muscle tone and
improvement of postural balance and motor function were necessary for developing
gait performances in order to obtain faster gait speed and a more symmetrical pattern.
For the temporo-spatial comparisons, the stroke significantly (p<0.05) showed
differences in cadence, double support time, step width, stride length and time, and
gait speed from the control. Furthermore, the stroke showed significant (p<0.05)
differences in single support time, step length and time in the un-affected side from the
control and the affected side and showed significant (p<0.05) differences in the step
length and time in the affected side from the control. The difficulty in walking of
stroke patients, reduction in cadence, stride length, and gait speed but increase in
double support time, step width, and stride time were shown as consequences of the
stroke and as compensation for movement. There were significant differences in the
hip, knee, and ankle among the control and the un-affected and affected sides for the
angular displacements in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes at the initial
contact, midstance, and toe off, for the angular velocities during the initial and
terminal swings, and for the ground reaction forces in the antero-posterior, mediolateral,
and vertical directions. In conclusion, alterations in gait characteristics were
observed in both the affected and the un-affected sides. Thus, to remedy the stroke
patients, not only the affected side, but also the un-affected side should be of concern