Abstract
Background and purpose
Regaining control of sitting posture is one of the first goals in the rehabilitation
of patients with stroke. So, it requires a precise quantification of this postural
behaviour. The purpose of the present investigation was thus to assess postural control
during sitting in people with hemiparesis through a biomechanical analysis.
Methods
Centre-of-pressure displacements were recorded by means of a force platform on which
10 patients with stroke and 10 age-matched healthy subjects were sitting. Centre-of-pressure
trajectories were processed through space-time and frequency analyses.
Results
These centre-of-pressure displacements of the patients with stroke were characterised
by an increased control for maintaining sit position and by reduced postural performance,
as enlightened by the larger surfaces covered by the centre-of-pressure displacements
(P < .05) and increased velocities (P < .001), respectively. As shown from the frequency analysis, the impairment have affected
predominantly the displacements occurring along the antero-posterior axis (P < .05).
Interpretations
The analysis of centre-of-pressure displacements during sitting posture indicates
an increased postural disturbance in patients with stroke. A platform device, because
of the non-invasive, easy and fast measures carried out, should thus be viewed as
an attractive tool for assessing the postural dysfunctioning encountered in sat patients
with stroke. This tool could also be used for evaluating, the rehabilitation process
following stroke.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 12, 2007
Accepted:
July 18,
2007
Received:
October 17,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
