Effect of Arm Sling on Standing Balance of Hemiplegic Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effect of arm sling on static balance of hemiplegic patients. METHOD: 23 hemiplegic stroke patients were evaluated. Subjects rested about for twenty minutes in sitting position before examination. Balance was examined by Mediance (Human-Tech Inc, Korea) for 30 seconds in three conditions (no-sling, with cuff-type arm sling and with Kang's Multi support). The order of examination was randomly selected. These tests were repeated for three times. Balance was represented as weight asymmetry and postural sway. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in weight asymmetry between no sling group and cuff-type arm sling group, but with Kang's Multi-support group, weight asymmetry was significantly decreased compared to no-sling group and cuff-type arm sling group. Postural sway was identical with no-sling group, cuff-type arm sling group and Kang's Multi-support group. CONCLUSION: Kang's Multi-support was helpful to reduce weight asymmetry compared with no-sling or cuff-type sling, nd to improve standing balance of hemiplegic patients.