[Relationship between lower extremity muscle strength and dynamic balance in people post-stroke].
The purpose of this study was to determine how lower extremity muscle weakness is related to post-stroke difficulties in balancing.


METHODS
Dynamic balance of 30 people post-stroke and 30 neurologically sound people was assessed by the Functional Reach Test and the Timed Up and Go Test. Bilateral lower extremity muscle strength was measured in classical manual muscle testing positions using a Lafayette instrument.


RESULTS
There was a weak correlation between lower extremity muscle strength and the Functional Reach Test: from r=0.05 to r=0.53 for the impaired extremity and from r=0.23 to r=0.53 for the sound extremity. Control group results were from r=0.51 to r=0.86. The correlation between lower extremity muscle strength and the Timed Up and Go Test was from r=-0.33 to r=-0.64 for the impaired extremity and from r=-0.35 to r=-0.58 for the sound extremity. Control group results in this testing situation were from r=-0.63 to r=-0.90.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study indicate that the loss of lower extremity muscle strength as a result of cerebrovascular accident has a poor influence on dynamic balance problems in people post-stroke.
Kligyte
Indre
I
Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Lithuania. kligyte@sol.dk
Lundy-Ekman
Laurie
L
Medeiros
John M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking