Assessment of ground reaction force components in stroke patients

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ground reaction force components in stroke patients [mild and moderate spasticity] and to compare them with normal subjects' parameters. Fifteen normal subjects and thirty stroke patients were participated in this study. Stroke patients were assigned into two equal groups, group I with mild spasticity and group II with moderate spasticity. All components of ground reaction force [vertical and horizontal [anteroposterior and lateral]] were calculated both in normal subjects and stroke patients. Force platform with a computer system were used to calculate ground reaction force components. Results of the study showed varied significant reduction of ground reaction force in all parameters in both groups [I and II] of stroke patients compared with normal subjects. All ground reaction force parameters were significantly higher in patients with mild spasticity, compared to moderate once. So, assessment of ground reaction force should be considered as a useful evaluating tool for kinetic gait analysis of patients. It also helps in detecting the prognosis of stroke patients, by comparing the ground reaction force parameters of those patients with normal parameters