Stance Stability Analysis of below Fifty Years Age Post-Stroke Hemiplegic Patients by Stabilometric Method

Abstract

In hemiplegia, caused by cerebrovascular accident or stroke, one-half of a patient's body is paralyzed. Post-stroke hemiplegic survivors have an increased risk of falling and hip fractures, leading to decreased physical activity, social deprivation and eventually, loss of independence. Balance deficits after stroke comprise reduced postural stability during quiet standing and delayed and less coordinated responses to both self-induced and external balance perturbations. Gait deficits include reduced propulsion at push-off, decreased hip and knee flexion during the swing phase, and reduced stability during the stance phase. This paper sheds lights on a comparative study on the stance stability between post-stroke hemiplegic patients group (age 28-50 yrs) and age-matched normal control group, using a force plate, also termed as stabilometer. Similar studies have rarely been performed in Indian health care system concerning the rehabilitation of post stroke hemiplegic patients. This research paper aims to quantify and assess the postural steadiness of 12 post stroke hemiplegic patients compared to age-matched normal control group (18 normal subjects) using standard COP (Centre of pressure) based parameters and identify the statistically significant variables using ANOVA test. The results of this study will help researchers and medical professionals to evaluate statistically significant COP-based parameters and clinically correlate them with static balance of hemiplegic patients.