Functional Performance in Hemiparetic Patients

Introduction: The most common manifestation of disturbed neurological function following stroke is motor weakness. Muscle weakness has been implicated as a factor underlying deficits in gait performance in subjects with stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between involved lower extremity isometric muscle strength and two functional tasks: gait ability and balance and motor skills in chronic stage of hemiparesis following stroke.

Materials and Methods: This analytical cross sectional study was performed in Kahrizak Charity Foundation in 2004. Thirty-four hemiparetic patients secondary to stroke were chosen through simple non-probability sampling. All patients were screened to ensure that their time since onset of stroke was at least 12 months. The isometric strength of seven muscle groups was measured with a hand-held dynamometer. Two functional activities, gait ability and balance and motor skills were measured using FAC and Timed Get up and Go tests, respectively. Spearman’s Correlations and linear regression were used to investigate the relationship and to estimate the results.

Results: All muscle groups’ strength, except for hip extensors (r=0.16), were correlated significantly with the Timed Get up and Go scores (r=0.37-0.45). None of these muscle groups’ strength, except for hip abductors (r=0.34), were correlated with functional ambulation category test scores (r=-0.021-0.2).

Conclusion: The results showed that all muscles’ strength, except for hip extensors, are valid estimators of balance and motor skills, and strength of hip abductors are valid estimators of gait ability. Also, this study are in support of using the involved lower extremity muscle strength measurements for evaluation of balance and motor skills and treatment of people in the chronic stage of rehabilitation following a stroke.