title: The Effects of Shoulder Slings on Balance in Patients With Hemiplegic Stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of a shoulder sling on balance in patients with hemiplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven hemiplegic stroke patients (right 13, left 14) were enrolled in this study. The subjects' movement in their centers of gravity (COGs) during their static and dynamic balance tests was measured with their eyes open in each sling condition-without a sling, with Bobath's axillary support (Bobath sling), and with a simple arm sling. The percent times in quadrant, overall, anterior/posterior, and medial/lateral stability indexes were measured using a posturography platform (Biodex Balance System SD). Functional balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale and the Trunk Impairment Scale. All balance tests were performed with each sling in random order.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The COGs of right hemiplegic stroke patients and all hemiplegic stroke patients shifted to, respectively, the right and posterior quadrants during the static balance test without a sling (p<0.05). This weight asymmetry pattern did not improve with either the Bobath or the simple arm sling. There was no significant improvement in any stability index during either the static or the dynamic balance tests in any sling condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The right and posterior deviations of the hemiplegic stroke patients' COGs were maintained during the application of the shoulder slings, and there were no significant effects of the shoulder slings on the patients' balance in the standing still position.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyun
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Pyoungsik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunkeun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Hemiplegia; Orthotic devices; Postural balance