Effect of Passive Leg Range of Motion Exercise in Hemiplegic Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the change of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiration rate, and spasticity at passive leg range of motion exercise for one month in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Subjects were composed of twenty hemiplegic patients who had spasticity above two grade in modified Ashworth scale. Passive leg range of motion exercise was performed with passive cycle leg exerciser (Autocybex) at the speed of 40 rpm. Training program consisted of two sessions a day, and each session was done for twenty minutes. The heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate were checked for each subject before and after passive leg range of motion exercise at initial state and after one month. Spasticity was measured at knee joint of the affected side at initial state and after one month. RESULTS: The resting heart rate, mean arterial pressure and respiration rate were significantly decreased after one month (p<0.05). The changes of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate after passive leg range of motion exercise were significantly decreased after one month (p<0.05). The grade of spasticity was decreased after one month (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that passive leg range of motion exercise during one month stabilized heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate, and reduced spasticity.