Some findings about the outcomes of hemiplegics patients

The sequelae after stroke often have resulted in limits in functions and social integration of the patients. Objectives: (1) to estimate sequela prevalence and (2) to describe the re-integration status of the hemiplegic patients. Method: Medical records of 120 patients presented at Bach Mai Hospital between 1996 to 1999 had been reviewed retrospectively; 64 patients had returned to followed up examination and 25 had been examnined at their home. Among them, 62.5% suffered from shoulder pain, 43.6% having the elbow contracture and 58.1% with wrist spastic flexion. 44.6% to 50% of the patients have difficulties in bathing and cloth changing. 51.8% were independent in ambulation. 35.42% of the patients at working age have income-generating activities. About 75% of the subjects have been socially integrated. Conclusion: These relative good results depended of active involvement of the patients and their family members in rehabilitation in-and after hospitalization.

Influence of Body Weight Unloading on Hemiplegic Gait

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanic influence of body weight unloading on the hemiplegic gait and to provide database for producing optimal strategies of gait training through body weight unloading (BWU) in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: We evaluated dynamic electromyographic data, temporal parameters of gait, and energy consumption in 20 hemiplegic patients walking on a treadmill with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of their BWU at their comfortable walking speed. RESULTS: 1) Stance phase and double limb support phase significantly decreased, and swing phase and single limb support phase increased according to BWU. 2) Asymmetricity of temporal parameters of gait improved according to BWU. 3) O2 rate, O2 cost, O2 pulse and heart rate significantly decreased with increasing BWU. 4) Muscular activities of rectus femoris, vastus medialis and biceps femoris decreased at initial contact and first half of stance phase and activities of medial gastrocnemius significantly decreased during entire stance phase with increasing BWU. CONCLUSION: BWU during treadmill locomotion would be advantageous as a therapeutic approach to retrain gait in hemiplegic patients.

The Effects of Balance Training Using Balance System in the Hemiplegic Patients

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the balance training effects of balance system in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHOD: The study consisted of 14 male and 6 female hemiplegic patients, aged 48 to 70 years, time postattack ranged from 6 to 17 months. Balance training was done by conventional method (control group) and using balance system (Chattanooga Group, Inc., training group) and the effect were evaluated by balance system. RESULTS: Body sway index and moving target accuracy rate were not significantly different between training group and control group before training, but were significantly different after training. Training group showed significantly decreased sway index and increased moving target accuracy rate at four weeks after training compared to the status before training. CONCLUSION: The hemiplegic patients trained by balance system showed significantly improved static and dynamic postural balance control. Therefore, the balance system is considered to be a valuable training modalitiy for the hemiplegic patients.