Functional implication of gait after left or right-sided stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify and compare parameters of muscle electrical activity and ground reaction force of lower limb during gait in post-stroke patients with left or right side functional involvement.


METHODS
Fifteen post-stroke volunteers with left side functional involvement were age, gender and weight matched and compared to fifteen post-stroke volunteers with right side functional involvement. Comparison was executed by means of electromyography with four pairs of surface electrodes positioned on the affected side (spastic side), on the muscles rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, soleus, and medial portion of the hamstrings, and with a ground reaction force plate.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference on electromyographic activity of analyzed muscles (p = 0.6), nor on the analysis of ground reaction vertical forces, stride duration, weight bearing index, gait velocity, cadence and stride length (p = 0.53).


CONCLUSIONS
According to the electromyographic parameters and to the ground reaction force during gait among the post-stroke volunteers with right or left side involvement; we could suggest that functional rehabilitation presented no differences for these individuals.
Corrêa
J C F
JC
Master of Rehabilitation Sciences, July Nine University Center -UNINOVE, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. jcorrea@uninove.br
Rocco
C Chiusoli de Miranda
CC
de Andrade
D Ventura
DV
Oliveira
C S
CS
Corrêa
F Ishida
FI
D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013035:Spasm / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation