title: Clinical correlates of between-limb synchronization of standing balance control and falls during inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke-related sensorimotor impairment potentially contributes to impaired balance. Balance measures that reveal underlying limb-specific control problems, such as a measure of the synchronization of both lower limbs to maintain standing balance, may be uniquely informative about poststroke balance control.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the relationships between clinical measures of sensorimotor control, functional balance, and fall risk and between-limb synchronization of balance control.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of 100 individuals with stroke admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. Force plate-based measures were obtained while standing on 2 force plates, including postural sway (root mean square of anteroposterior and mediolateral center of pressure [COP]), stance load asymmetry (percentage of body weight borne on the less-loaded limb), and between-limb synchronization (cross-correlation of the COP recordings under each foot). Clinical measures obtained were motor impairment (Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment), plantar cutaneous sensation, functional balance (Berg Balance Scale), and falls experienced in rehabilitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Synchronization was significantly related to motor impairment and prospective falls, even when controlling for other force plate-based measures of standing balance control (ie, postural sway and stance load symmetry).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Between-limb COP synchronization for standing balance appears to be a uniquely important index of balance control, independent of postural sway and load symmetry during stance.
authors.affiliation: Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, Toronto, ON, Canada. avril.mansfield@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Inness
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: McIlroy
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005121:Extremities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors