Effects of one-point and four-point canes on balance and weight distribution in patients with hemiparesis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of one-point and four-point canes on postural sway and on the distribution of weight between the lower extremities and the walking aids in hemiparetic patients.


METHODS
Flieman Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Haifa, Israel.


METHODS
Thirty hemiparetic patients following a unilateral stroke, with moderate functional impairment, and 20 age-matched healthy subjects.


METHODS
Subjects were tested on two forceplates, which were placed at a 30 degrees angle from each other with the heel end of the plates separated by 3 cm. Each subject was tested under three conditions: with no cane, with a one-point cane, and with a four-point cane. Testing time was 30 seconds, and order of testing was randomized.


METHODS
Weight borne by the lower extremities and by the walking aids expressed as a percentage of overall body weight, and Sway Index indicating vertical pressure fluctuations over both feet.


RESULTS
In both subject groups, the one-point cane did not reduce sway significantly in comparison with no cane, while the four-point cane reduced sway significantly in comparison with both no cane and one-point cane. Neither cane type affected weight-bearing on the paretic leg, while significantly reducing weight-bearing on the uninvolved extremity. Mean percentage of body weight on the four-point cane was significantly higher than on the one-point cane


CONCLUSIONS
A four-point cane increases stability of moderately involved hemiparetic patients during stance more than a one-point cane. The noted shift of weight toward the walking aid does not adversely affect weight-bearing on the paretic limb.
Laufer
Yocheved
Y
Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, University of Haifa, Israel. yocheved@research.haifa.ac.il
D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002183:Canes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016474:Weight-Bearing