title: The effect of isolating the paretic limb on weight-bearing distribution and EMG activity during squats in hemiplegic and healthy individuals.
abstract: Neural reorganization for movement therapy after a stroke is thought to be an important mechanism that facilitates motor recovery. However, there is a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of exercise programs in improving the lower limbs.
  
  
  
  We investigated the immediate effect of isolating the paretic limb using different foot positions ((i) foot parallel; both feet parallel, (ii) foot asymmetry; paretic foot backward by 10 cm, and (iii) foot lifting; nonparetic foot lifting by normalization to 25% of knee height) on weight-bearing distribution and electromyography (EMG) of the thigh muscle during squats.
  
  
  
  In total, 20 patients with hemiplegia and 16 healthy subjects randomly performed three squat conditions in which the knee joint was flexed to 30°. Weight distribution was measured using the BioRescue system. Muscle activity was measured using a surface EMG system.
  
  
  
  Patients with hemiplegia exhibited significantly decreased weight bearing on the paretic foot at 0° and 30° knee flexion compared with the nondominant foot of a healthy subject. The muscle activity of the quadriceps was significantly lower in patients with hemiplegia compared to healthy subjects. Weight bearing and EMG activity of the quadriceps femoris on the paretic or nondominant side significantly increased during a knee flexion of 30° with under the foot asymmetry and foot lifting positions compared with the parallel foot position.
  
  
  
  Isolating the paretic limb using the asymmetric foot positions and lifting of the foot during squats might help patients with hemiplegia to improve weight-bearing and achieve greater activation of the quadriceps muscle in the paretic limb.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School , INJE University , Gimhae , South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering , INJE University , Gimhae , South Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering , INJE University , Gimhae , South Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Gyu
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physical Therapy, College of Public Health and Welfare , YONGIN University , Yongin , South Korea.
authors.forename: Byong-Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: d Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science , DAEGU University , Deagu , South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering , INJE University , Gimhae , South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Seop
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Electromyography; isolating the paretic limb; squat; weight-bearing distribution