Article

PURPOSE: To examine the immediate effect of symmetrical weight bearing (SWB) on
temporal events of gait initiation (GI) patterns and timing and amplitude of
lower distal limb muscles activity during GI in persons with hemiparesis. METHOD:
The study was a within-subjects design. Twelve persons with hemiparesis were
recruited from the Veterans Affairs Brain Rehabilitation Research Center at the
Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs, Gainesville, Florida. GI trials were performed
from 4 beginning limb-loading conditions presented in a randomized order: (1) GI
with the paretic limb during natural (asymmetrical) weight bearing (NWB); (2) GI
with the nonparetic limb during NWB; (3) GI with the paretic limb during SWB; and
(4) GI with the nonparetic limb during SWB. Temporal events of ground reaction
forces (GRFs) and timing and amplitude of distal muscles activity were measured
during GI trials in a motion analysis laboratory. RESULTS: There were no
significant effects of SWB on the temporal events of GRFs and timing and
amplitude of distal muscles activity when initiating gait with the paretic limb.
Onset of tibilais anterior (TA) muscle was delayed significantly with less
amplitude when initiating gait with the paretic limb in both NWB and SWB
conditions. However, when initiating gait with the nonparetic limb, TA muscle on
the paretic limb was activated normally with greater amplitude in both NWB and
SWB conditions. CONCLUSION: Initiating gait with the nonparetic limb as pregait
activity may more effectively challenge the dynamic balance for a symmetrical
gait pattern than the standard SWB in persons with hemiparesis.

Langue : ANGLAIS