Title

Movement analysis of individuals with hemiparesis and individuals who are neurologically intact during sit-to-stand and stepping-up-a-curb

Date of Completion

January 1999

Keywords

Biology, Molecular|Biology, Neuroscience|Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy

Degree

Ph.D.

Abstract

The tasks of standing up from sifting and stepping up onto a curb are important functional skills that are frequently restricted when an individual has sustained a stroke. In order to help patients improve their ability to perform these functional tasks, impairments are frequently examined and treated. The primary purpose of this study was to identify relationships between impairments and the functional tasks of sit-to-stand (STS) and stepping-up-a-curb (SUAC). Fifteen individuals, aged 29 to 77 (mean = 53.7), who had sustained a stroke (patient group) participated in this study. Data collected on a second group of 15 age, gender, height, and weight matched individuals without known neurological involvement (control group) was used to establish that the patient group differed from the control group in performance of the two functional activities and the impairments. Impairment measures included standing balance, maximum weight-bearing through the affected lower extremity, and strength of hip flexors, knee extensors, and ankle dorsiflexors. Kinetic energy of STS and SUAC, determined using velocity of the center of mass, was analyzed to characterize the performance of these activities. Between group comparisons on impairments measures and STS and SUAC performance characteristics established that the patient group differed from the control group in its performance of these measures. Significant relationships were found between STS CM kinetic energy, and all three impairment measures, knee extension ( rs = .49), standing balance ( rs = .50), and maximum weight-bearing ( rs = .50). For SUAC CM kinetic energy, significant relationships were found between CM kinetic energy and two of the three impairment measures: standing balance ( rs = .45) and maximum weight-bearing ( rs = .45). In conclusion, this study suggests that balance and maximum weight-bearing are legitimate impairments to measure as well as targets for intervention for both STS and SUAC. Also, knee extensor strength is an important impairment to measure and treat for STS. ^

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