Analysis of the Stance Phase in a Hemiplegic Patient by the Measurement of Plantar Pressure

ABSTRACT

OBJECTS The purpose of this study is to estimate the values of foot pressure of the stance phase during a gait cycle in hemiplegic gait. METHOD: Thirty patients who had a stroke and forty healthy adults were evaluated by the EMED-SF system to analyze the stance phase of hemiplegic gait. The stance phase was evaluated by 6 points according to the foot pressure and center of pressure proposed by Lee et al.2) RESULTS: 1) In hemiplegics, the stance time of involved limb decreased compared with that of the uninvolved limb and increased that of control groups (p<0.05). 2) In hemiplegics, the midstance time increased but the loading response and terminal stance decreased compared with the uninvolved limb and controls (p<0.05). 3) In hemiplegics, the midstance time decreased and the loading response and terminal phase increased according to the increased Brunnstrom stage (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that an analysis of stance phase by the measurement of plantar pressure was a valuable parameter in the gait analysis of hemiplegic patients.