Trunk rotatory muscle performance in post-stroke hemiplegic patients

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neurology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Stroke survivors often experience hemiplegia, impacting trunk muscle function.
• Assessing trunk muscle performance is crucial for rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of trunk rotation direction on trunk muscle performance in hemiplegic patients.
• To compare trunk muscle performance between hemiplegic patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A nonrandomized control trial involving 65 hemiplegic patients and 80 healthy controls.
• Isokinetic trunk rotatory muscle performance was measured at 60, 120, and 150 degrees/second using an isokinetic dynamometer.
• Peak torque and best work were analyzed for right and left rotation directions.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in peak torque or best work were found between right and left trunk rotation in hemiplegic patients or controls.
• Hemiplegic patients demonstrated significantly lower trunk muscle performance than healthy controls for both genders.
• Trunk muscle performance in hemiplegic patients was not affected by rotation direction, though overall performance was reduced.

Conclusions:

• The direction of trunk rotation does not influence trunk muscle performance in hemiplegic patients.
• Hemiplegic patients exhibit impaired trunk muscle strength compared to healthy individuals.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve overall trunk muscle function post-stroke.