Article

The purposes of this study were (1) to compare the difference
in the center of pressure measures during forward bending of the trunk and
reaching on postural actions between normal subjects and stroke patients and (2)
to examine the effects of task demands on the center of pressure measures in both
groups. DESIGN: Thirteen normal subjects and 23 stroke patients performed two
trials of forward bending of the trunk and reaching for each of the targets at
six locations at floor level while standing on a 0.5-m-long pressure mat. Center
of pressure excursion, center of pressure average velocity, and bilateral limb
weight-bearing ratios characterized the postural actions. Mixed-design analysis
of variance was used. RESULTS: A significant target location by group interaction
effects was found for all variables except the center of pressure average
velocity. All variables except center of pressure average velocity showed
significant group differences. The center of pressure excursion and bilateral
limb weight-bearing ratio were smaller, and the center of pressure average
velocity was larger in stroke patients than in normal subjects. The effects of
target location on variables measured were prominent in stroke patients. The
posturography of stroke patients was less regular than that of normal subjects.
Stroke patients tended to avoid shifting their center of pressure toward the
affected side, even when highly necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The difference of
postural actions between groups depended on task demands. Small center of
pressure displacement and fast center of pressure velocity characterized
decreased adaptive postural actions. The amount of center of pressure shift and
center of pressure velocity were also dependent on the task demands for both
groups.

Langue : ANGLAIS