The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy

The Korean Society of Physical Therapy (대한물리치료학회)
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The Effect of Changes in Walking Aids on Weight Bearing on the Cane and Foot in Stroke

뇌졸중 환자에서 지팡이 종류에 따른 지팡이와 양발의 체중지지에 미치는 영향

  • Jung, Kyoung-Sim (Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University) ;
  • Chung, Yi-Jung (Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University)
  • 정경심 (삼육대학교 대학원 물리치료학과) ;
  • 정이정 (삼육대학교 보건복지대학 물리치료학과)
  • Received : 2012.03.17
  • Accepted : 2012.04.12
  • Published : 2012.04.25
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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the weight bearing of the cane and foot for the different walking aids during walking. Methods: A total of 12 subjects (6 males, 6 female) with stroke were enrolled in the study. Foot sensor and an instrumented cane were integrated to analyze the vertical peak force on the foot and cane. Results: The vertical peak force applied on the quad cane gait resulted in a significantly higher rate, which was $10.60{\pm}6.48%$ of the body weight, when compared to that of mono cane gait which was $7.91{\pm}4.11%$. The results indicated significantly lower vertical peak force on the affected foot, without the help of a walking aid, as compared to that of walking with a cane (respectively, p<0.05). However, results showed that the differences in vertical peak force on the affected foot, between mono cane and quad cane, were not significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, the vertical peak forces were significantly greater, during a comparison between walking with a quad cane and walking with a mono cane. On the contrary, no significant difference in the vertical peak force on the affected foot between walking with quad cane and walking with a mono cane. Muscle activation pattern and walking pattern should be measured in future studies, to study the differences between walking with various walking aids in the lower and higher functioning hemiparetic subjects, as its use may mask underlying gait impairment.

Keywords

References

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