Static Balance Function in Stroke Patients: A Plantar Pressure Analysis / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the mechanism of balance control after stroke by plantar pressure analysis. Methods:From July to December, 2019, twelve stroke subjects (stroke group) and 30 normal subjects (control group) were recruited in the rehabilitation department of our hospital. Both groups were measured plantar pressure in eyes open and closed conditions. The kinematic parameters, dynamic parameters, plantar pressure center (CoP), symmetry index (SI), symmetry angle (SA) and Romberg quotient (RQ) were calculated. Results:Compared with eyes open condition, the average Y and maximum swing of the control group increased significantly in eyes closed condition (P < 0.01); moreover, the ball length, average speed and maximum swing increased significantly in the stroke group (P <0.05). Compared with the control group, the area of the ellipse (|t| > 3.509, P < 0.001) and the average X (|Z|> 2.311, P < 0.05) significantly increased both in eyes open and closed condition, whereas the maximum swing (Z = -3.118, P < 0.01) increased significantly in eyes closed condition in the stroke group. The RQ of ball length was significantly more in the stroke group than in the control group (t = -3.570, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in SI and SA of all parameters between the eyes open and closed condition in two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, load SI, overall load SI, forefoot load SI, area SI and forefoot area SI increased in both the eyes open and closed conditions in the stroke group (t > 2.344, P < 0.05), whereas load SA, overall load SA, forefoot load SA, area SA, forefoot area SA increased (|t|> 2.297, P < 0.05), hindfoot load SA increased only in eyes open condition (t = -2.485, P < 0.05), and hindfoot area SA increased only in eyes closed condition (t = -2.132, P < 0.05). In the control group, CoP was mainly distributed in the negative direction of Y axis when the eyes were open and closed, while CoP in the stroke group was relatively discrete, and the distribution on X axis was more obvious than that of the control group. Conclusion:The balance control of stroke patients might depend on visual compensation, and the plantar pressure analysis system could be used to evaluate the balance function in stroke patients.