Influence of Body Weight Unloading on Hemiplegic Gait.
- Author:
Kay Ho CHUN
1
;
Kang Hee CHO
;
Bong Ok KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Body weight unloading;
Hemiplegics;
Temporal parameters;
Electromyography;
Energy consumption
- MeSH:
Body Weight*;
Electromyography;
Extremities;
Gait;
Gait Disorders, Neurologic*;
Heart Rate;
Humans;
Locomotion;
Quadriceps Muscle;
Walking
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
1999;23(2):371-376
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanic influence of body weight unloading on the hemiplegic gait and to provide database for producing optimal strategies of gait training through body weight unloading (BWU) in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: We evaluated dynamic electromyographic data, temporal parameters of gait, and energy consumption in 20 hemiplegic patients walking on a treadmill with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of their BWU at their comfortable walking speed. RESULTS: 1) Stance phase and double limb support phase significantly decreased, and swing phase and single limb support phase increased according to BWU. 2) Asymmetricity of temporal parameters of gait improved according to BWU. 3) O2 rate, O2 cost, O2 pulse and heart rate significantly decreased with increasing BWU. 4) Muscular activities of rectus femoris, vastus medialis and biceps femoris decreased at initial contact and first half of stance phase and activities of medial gastrocnemius significantly decreased during entire stance phase with increasing BWU. CONCLUSION: BWU during treadmill locomotion would be advantageous as a therapeutic approach to retrain gait in hemiplegic patients.
