The effects of stretching and stabilization exercise on the improvement of spastic shoulder function in hemiplegic patients.
[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of stretching and joint stabilization exercises applied to spastic shoulder joints on improving shoulder dysfunction in hemiplegic patients. [Subjects and Methods] Hemiplegic patients were classified into three groups: one group received 30 min of traditional exercise therapy for the spastic shoulder joint; one group received 30 min stretching; and one group received 15 min of stretching and 15 min of joint stabilization exercises. The exercises were performed once a day, five times per week for eight weeks. Changes in the pathologic thickness of tendons and recovery of shoulder function were compared among the three groups. Differences among the three groups before the experiment, at four weeks, and at eight weeks were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. [Results] The stretching and joint stabilization exercise therapy group showed greater improvement in shoulder function than the traditional exercise therapy group and the stretching only group. This group also showed greater decreases in the pathologic thickness of tendons, than the other groups. [Conclusion] This study demonstrated that an exercise therapy program that combined stretching and joint stabilization exercise was more effective than other exercises for improvement of spastic shoulder joint dysfunction in hemiplegic patients.
Bronco Memorial Hospital, Republic of Korea.
Young Youl
YY
You
Department of Rehabilitation Therapy, Graduate School of Hallym University, Republic of Korea.
Jin Gang
JG
Her
Department of Rehabilitation Therapy, Graduate School of Hallym University, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Hea
JH
Woo
Department of Physical Therapy, Daewon University College, Republic of Korea.
Taesung
T
Ko
Hanyang University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
Sin Ho
SH
Chung
Joint stabilization; Spasticity shoulder; Stretching