Physical impairments related to kinetic energy during sit-to-stand and curb-climbing following stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Compare kinetic energy and duration of task during sit-to-stand and curb-climbing of two groups: hemiparetic stroke patients and matched controls. For patients, describe relationships between selected physical impairments and sit-to-stand and curb-climbing performance.


METHODS
Descriptive and correlational.Background. Measures and treatments are best selected after specific limitations in functional activities (e.g., sit-to-stand) and related impairments are identified. METHOD. Fifteen patients, 29-77 (mean=53.7) years with recent stroke and 15 demographically matched healthy controls participated. Physical performance variables measured were standing balance, maximum paretic extremity weight-bearing, and knee extension strength. Sit-to-stand and curb-climbing performance were characterized using kinetic energy and task duration. Differences in physical and functional performance between groups were determined. Spearman correlations were calculated between patients' physical impairments and sit-to-stand and curb-climbing performance.


RESULTS
Compared to controls, patients demonstrated reduced kinetic energy (P< or =0.003) and prolonged duration (P< or = 0.001) for sit-to-stand and curb-climbing. Significant relationships (r(s)=0.49-0.50) were demonstrated between sit-to-stand kinetic energy and knee extension strength, standing balance, and maximum weight-bearing. For curb climbing, significant relationships (r(s)=0.45) were found between kinetic energy and standing balance and maximum weight-bearing.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired balance and maximum weight-bearing are relevant to sit-to-stand and curb-climbing limitations after stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians treating sit-to-stand or curb-climbing limitations have reason to measure and treat impairments in maximum weight-bearing, knee extension strength, and standing balance.
Cameron
D M
DM
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT 06518, USA. denise.cameron@quimnipiac.edu
Bohannon
R W
RW
Garrett
G E
GE
Owen
S V
SV
Cameron
D A
DA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016474:Weight-Bearing