Changes in Postural Sway According to Surface Stability in Post-stroke Patients

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in postural sway according to surface stability in post-stroke patients. [Subjects] Fifty-eight subjects were recruited on a voluntary basis from the local rehabilitation unit (stroke patients) and community (age-matched older adults). Twenty-nine stroke patients and twenty-nine age-matched older adults who were healthy participated in the study. Participants were classified as the stroke group (28 stroke patients) and control group (28 age-matched older adults). [Methods] This study applied a cross-sectional design. The Good Balance force platform system (Metitur Ltd., Finland) was used to measure the postural sway velocity, area, and distance of subjects under the unstable surface (foam) condition and stable surface condition in the standing posture. [Results] The postural way velocity, area, and distance were significantly higher in under the unstable surface conditions compared with under the stable surface conditions in both groups. In particular, the changes in postural sway velocity (anteroposterior), area, and distance (anteroposterior) under the foam and stable surface conditions were significantly different between the stroke group and control group. [Conclusion] We believe that these results provide basic information on the improvements in balance ability and may be useful in balance training to prevent future falls after stroke.