Body balance in standing position in people after cerebral stroke on the basis of posturographic examinations

Abstract

AbstractA stroke has a number of direct effects on body balance. Despite the progress in medical science, it continues to be one of the major causes of disability in adults.The objective of the study was to evaluate the body balance in people after stroke depending on the side of hemiparesis.The study included 30 patients with left and right-sided hemiparesis. The mean age of the patients was 66 years. The tests were conducted on the R50300 Cosmogamma balance platform, in a standing position. Each patient was examined twice: with and without vision, in a standing position. The statistical analysis was carried out using the STATISTICA software.The results revealed statistical differences in the maximum lateral sways of the Centre of Pressure (COP) with the eyes open, the maximum front-back sways of the Centre of Pressure with the eyes closed, and the mean COP values in the frontal plane with and without vision in individuals with right and left-sided hemiparesis. Patients with left and right-sided hemiparesis were found to underload the affected side, regardless of whether they were tested with or without vision. Moreover, patients with right-sided hemiparesis who were tested with their eyes open had greater difficulty maintaining body balance in the frontal plane than those with left-sided hemiparesis, and patients with right-sided hemiparesis who were examined with their eyes closed had greater difficulty maintaining body balance in the sagittal plane than those with left-sided hemiparesis.During the posturographic examination, individuals with left and right-sided hemiparesis displayed underloading of the affected side, both when tested with their eyes open and closed. When tested with vision, patients with right-sided hemiparesis had greater difficulty maintaining body balance in the frontal plane than those with left-sided hemiparesis. When tested without vision, patients with right-sided hemiparesis had greater difficulty maintaining body balance in the sagittal plane than those with left-sided hemiparesis.