Does the patellar tendon reflex affect the postural stability in stroke patients with blocked vision?
Ziyou Zhou1, Zhen Hu2, Wei Bao1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, No.1158, Xiasha 2nd Street, Jianggan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
Translational Neuroscience
|April 21, 2023
Summary
Postural instability in stroke patients correlates with patellar tendon reflex grade. Higher reflex grades indicate better postural stability, especially with eyes closed, aiding clinical assessment and fall risk evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Stroke frequently leads to postural instability.
- The patellar tendon reflex is a standard clinical assessment for stroke patients.
- Understanding the link between reflex grade and stability is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between patellar tendon reflex grade and postural stability in stroke survivors.
- To determine if reflex grade can predict stability under different sensory conditions.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-seven elderly stroke patients with varying patellar tendon reflex grades were assessed.
- Postural stability was measured using a force platform under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions.
- Center of pressure (COP) signals were analyzed using parametric, detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), and power spectral density (PSD) methods.
Main Results:
- All COP sway parameters (trajectory length, mediolateral, and anterior-posterior ranges) were negatively correlated with patellar tendon reflex grade under eyes-closed conditions.
- Higher patellar tendon reflex grades correlated with reduced sway and improved stability, particularly when visual input was removed.
- Eyes-closed conditions revealed stronger correlations between patellar tendon reflex and postural stability across multiple analysis methods (DFA, PSD).
Conclusions:
- A significant correlation exists between patellar tendon reflex grade and postural stability in stroke patients, especially when vision is occluded.
- This finding suggests the patellar tendon reflex is a valuable clinical indicator for assessing fall risk and guiding rehabilitation strategies in stroke survivors.
- The results highlight the importance of sensory feedback, particularly vision, in maintaining balance for stroke patients.
