Visual influence on contact pressure of hemiplegic patients through photoelastic sole image.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the visual influence through photoelastic sole image on upright posture in hemiplegic patients.

DESIGN

Before-during trial.

SETTING

An academically based rehabilitation setting.

PATIENTS: Nineteen hemiplegic patients 3 to 8 months after the stroke were designated as severe (n = 5), moderate I (n = 4), moderate II (n = 5), and mild groups (n = 5). The severe, moderate, and mild groups were in Brunnstrom's motor recovery stage II, IV, and V, respectively. Vibration sense in the paretic leg was intact in the moderate II and mild groups, but impaired in the severe and moderate I groups.

INTERVENTION: Visual feedback therapy on standing before before and while watching his or her own photoelastic sole image on a television screen (before vs during).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The body-weight-bearing ratio on the paretic sole was analyzed.

RESULTS

The body-weight-bearing ratio on the paretic sole increased during visual feedback (before vs during, percentage, severe, 21.8 +/- 11.4 vs 38.7 +/- 13.7, p < .02; moderate I, 30.4 +/- 11.1 vs 39.3 +/- 6.4, not significant; moderate II, 32.8 +/- 10.3 vs 46.8 +/- 7.8, p < .05; mild, 29.7 +/- 7.0 vs 41.8 +/- 7.5, p < .005; mean +/- SD).

CONCLUSION

As the only difference between the moderate I and II groups was impaired or intact vibration sense in the paretic limbs, vibration sense along with motor recovery is an important factor to increase body weight loading on the paretic sole in hemiplegic patients.