Article

The aim of this study is to investigate whether progressive resistive
training with closed-kinetic chain (CKC) and open-kinetic chain (OKC) exercises
could change plantar pressure distribution during walking in patients with
stroke. METHODS: Thirty-nine stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided
into a CKC exercise group (n = 13), an OKC exercise group (n = 13), and a control
group (n = 13). Both CKC and OKC exercise groups performed their own respective
training programs 5 times per week for 6 weeks, whereas no training was done in
the control group. Barefoot plantar pressure distribution was measured during
walking in terms of contact area (CA), peak contact force (PCF), and contact
impulse (CI) on each of three foot regions (i.e. forefoot (FF), midfoot (MF), and
hindfoot (HF)). RESULTS: In the CKC exercise group, there were significant
changes in only the CA and PCF of HF. In the OKC exercise and control groups, no
significant differences were found for all variables of plantar pressure
distributions. CONCLUSION: We found that resistive training with closed kinetic
chain exercises could be an effective treatment method for improving normal gait
patterns in stroke patients. These findings may be attributed to the fact that
CKC exercise induced use of the ankle and knee muscles and provided repetitive
sensory input from the affected foot.

Langue : ANGLAIS