Characterization of anticipatory postural adjustments in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia using smartphones

This study aimed to measure anticipatory postural adjustment characteristics of patients with stroke hemiplegia during one-leg standing using a smartphone.

Participants included 20 patients with stroke hemiplegia and 10 healthy age-matched controls. A smartphone was attached to the pelvis (L5), and one-leg standing movement was measured. The main data were the mediolateral component of the acceleration built into the smartphone. The time (peak latency) and amount of movement up to the maximum value (peak magnitude) of the acceleration in the stance direction were analyzed as the anticipatory postural adjustment feature quantities.

Patients with stroke hemiplegia showed a decrease in peak magnitude compared with controls. Additionally, the peak magnitude was lower when lifting the paretic leg than the non-paretic leg, and the peak latency was slower when lifting the non-paretic leg than the paretic leg. Peak latency of non-paretic leg elevation correlated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Mini-BESTest scores.

This study revealed decreased anticipatory postural adjustments and asymmetry in the motor strategies of patients with stroke hemiplegia. From the perspective of hemiplegic motor and balance functions, the timing of the shift in the center of gravity to the paretic leg when lifting the non-paretic leg is important.