Effects of kinetic chain exercise using EMG-biofeedback on balance and lower extremity muscle activation in stroke patients.
Yong Keun Park, Je Ho Kim
PMID 28878469WHAT IT FOUND
Chronic stroke patients doing closed-chain exercises with muscle feedback improved balance and thigh-muscle activation more than those doing open-chain exercises with muscle feedback.
Both groups improved after six weeks.
Key findings
01Both the closed kinetic chain exercise group with EMG-biofeedback and the open kinetic chain exercise group with EMG-biofeedback had significant increases in limit of stability and vastus lateralis and vastus medialis activation after intervention.
02After intervention, the closed kinetic chain exercise group with EMG-biofeedback had significantly higher limit of stability and vastus lateralis and vastus medialis activation than the open kinetic chain exercise group with EMG-biofeedback.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included 30 chronic stroke patients from one hospital, and the authors state that the small number and limited regional extent may prevent generalization to all stroke patients. Participants had to walk more than 10 meters independently and score 24 points or more on MMSE-K, so findings do not apply to patients with more severe balance, mobility, or cognitive impairment. Both groups received EMG-biofeedback with exercise, and the study did not include exercise without EMG-biofeedback or EMG-biofeedback without exercise, so the contribution of each component cannot be separated. The paper does not describe group assignment or blinding. The outcomes were balance limit of stability and muscle activation, not walking ability or quality of life; the authors say further research is needed for walking ability and quality of life.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that closed kinetic chain exercise alone improves balance or muscle activation. Both groups received EMG-biofeedback, and the study did not include exercise without feedback or feedback without exercise.