BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is unknown whether hemiparetic individuals are aware of their weight-bearing asymmetry during sit-to-stand tasks. This study compared the error between hemiparetic and healthy individuals' perception of weight-bearing and their actual weight-bearing distribution during the sit-to-stand task and analyzed the association between the knee extensor muscle strength and the weight-bearing distribution and perception. METHODS: Nineteen unilateral hemiparetic subjects and 15 healthy individuals participated in the study. They performed the sit-to-stand transfer on force platforms under different foot placements (spontaneous and symmetrical) and had to rate their perceived weight-bearing distribution at the lower limbs on a visual analog scale. The strength of the knee extensors was assessed with a Biodex dynamometer. RESULTS: The hemiparetic individuals presented greater weight-bearing asymmetry and errors of perception than the healthy individuals. Although no significant association was found between strength and weight-bearing perception, moderate associations were found between strength and weight-bearing distribution for both the spontaneous (r=0.75, P<0.01) and symmetrical (r=0.71, P<0.01) foot position conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that individuals with hemiparesis after a stroke do not perceive themselves as asymmetrical when executing the sit-to-stand transfer and that the knee extensor strength is a factor linked to their weight-bearing asymmetry, not to their perception.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is unknown whether hemiparetic individuals are aware of their weight-bearing asymmetry during sit-to-stand tasks. This study compared the error between hemiparetic and healthy individuals' perception of weight-bearing and their actual weight-bearing distribution during the sit-to-stand task and analyzed the association between the knee extensor muscle strength and the weight-bearing distribution and perception. METHODS: Nineteen unilateral hemiparetic subjects and 15 healthy individuals participated in the study. They performed the sit-to-stand transfer on force platforms under different foot placements (spontaneous and symmetrical) and had to rate their perceived weight-bearing distribution at the lower limbs on a visual analog scale. The strength of the knee extensors was assessed with a Biodex dynamometer. RESULTS: The hemiparetic individuals presented greater weight-bearing asymmetry and errors of perception than the healthy individuals. Although no significant association was found between strength and weight-bearing perception, moderate associations were found between strength and weight-bearing distribution for both the spontaneous (r=0.75, P<0.01) and symmetrical (r=0.71, P<0.01) foot position conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that individuals with hemiparesis after a stroke do not perceive themselves as asymmetrical when executing the sit-to-stand transfer and that the knee extensor strength is a factor linked to their weight-bearing asymmetry, not to their perception.
Authors: Shamay S M Ng; Susanna Y Cheung; Lauren S W Lai; Ann S L Liu; Selena H I Ieong; Shirley S M Fong Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2013-09-11 Impact factor: 3.411