BALANCE, GAIT AND LATEROPULSION DISORDERS IN THE ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke mortality rates has decreased to a considerable value over the past few decades owing to the improved medical facilities and technology. This has lead to more number of stroke survivors in the aging population. A strong predictor of independent living after stroke is maintaining body balance and it was showing strong correlation with the disability perceived at the time of patient's discharge from the stroke rehabilitation unit Methodology: All patients with acute ischemic stroke were taken for study. These initial assessments collected information about handedness, all motor decits, postural instability and gait disorders, and disability affecting motor function. The second assessment was performed after one week of stroke at the discharge after daily physiotherapy and only focused on postural and gait disorders. Motor weakness was assessed by a standardized examination of muscle strength adapted for participants with central neurological disorders. Lateropulsion, gait and balance disorders were identied by specic protocols. Results: It was observed that the lesions of frontal lobe, thalamus, basal ganglia and internal capsule had signicant assosciation with balance and gait abnormality post stroke while lesions of parietal lobe, temporal lobe and occipital lobe did not lead to any signicant gait or balance decits. Individuals with lateropulsion improves well on daily physiotherapy in both Lw/oP (r = -0.65) and for pushers (r = -0.61) to a signicantly improved state( r= -0.5 for upright and r= -0.24 for pushers).Conclusion: Lateropulsion is a main factor in determining recovery of balance and gait in the subacute stage of stroke recovery. Special emphasis should be given to the impaired body orientation with respect to gravity in stroke rehabilitation stage and techniques to improve lateropulsion has to be stressed during physiotherapy for better recovery of balance and gait post stroke