Abstract
This study evaluated asymmetry of weight bearing on the lower limbs and the association between percentage weight bearing asymmetry (PWBA) and functional ambulation performance in ambulant stroke survivors. Participants were 53 stroke survivors (male = 35, female = 18) aged 40-86 years (mean=58.87; SD=9.21years) with hemiparesis. Weight bearing through the lower limbs in standing was assessed by two juxtaposed bathroom weighing scales while functional ambulation performance was evaluated with the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (E-FAP). Data were summarized with mean and standard deviation and further analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation at 0.05 alpha level. Participants bore 60.3% (SD =7.1%) of their body weights on the unaffected legs and had a mean PWBA of 20.8 % (SD=14.7%). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.675, p < 0.0001) between PWBA and total E-FAP scores of participants. PWBA could hence be used to monitor functional ambulation recovery in stroke survivors.
Highlights
This study evaluated asymmetry of weight bearing on the lower limbs and the association between percentage weight bearing asymmetry (PWBA) and functional ambulation performance in ambulant stroke survivors
This study investigated weight bearing asymmetry in standing in a cohort of ambulant hemiparetic stroke survivors and the correlation between percentage weight bearing asymmetry and functional ambulation performance
Subjects in this study bore a mean of 60.3% of their body weight on their unaffected leg which is similar to the 63.4% and 61.0% reported by Caldwell et al (1986) and Sackley et al (1992) respectively, but lower than the 70.0% reported by Shumway- Cook et al (1988) and Mizrahi et al (1989) and higher than the 57.6% reported by Adegoke and Akinkoye (2003)
Summary
Fifty three consecutive patients (35 males and 18 females) of ages 40-86 years who had hemiparesis post-cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and were receiving physiotherapy treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Ring Road State Hospital, Ibadan, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Lagos at the time of data collection participated in this ex-post facto study. All participants met the following inclusion criteria: 1. 2. No other neurological problem apart from stroke. 3. No orthopaedic problems of the lower limbs that may affect lower limb function. 4. Able to understand (comprehend) and follow instructions
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