The effects of upper and lower limb position on symmetry of vertical ground reaction force during sit-to-stand in chronic stroke subjects.
Jae Hong Lee, Dong Ki Min, Han Seong Choe and 2 others
PMID 29545686WHAT IT FOUND
Placing the non-paretic leg on a step and clasping the hands improved weight-sharing symmetry during sit-to-stand in chronic stroke, but the non-paretic leg still carried more force.
Key findings
01Using a step under the non-paretic leg and clasping the hands together produced higher weight-bearing symmetry ratios than other positions.
02Foot position and arm position each had significant main effects on symmetry, but they did not significantly interact.
03In every tested position, the non-paretic leg carried a greater peak vertical force than the paretic leg.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only 22 people took part, and all were relatively high functioning, so the result may not apply to less able stroke patients. The sit-to-stand movement was not broken down into individual phases, so the study did not analyse the biomechanics of each part of rising. The study measured force symmetry during the task only; it did not show that these positions improve walking, balance recovery, falls, or daily activities.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these positions as a proven treatment that reduces falls or improves daily function. The study measured only immediate force symmetry during sit-to-stand in 22 high-functioning chronic stroke patients, and the authors state caution is needed when generalizing.