Department of Clinical Rehabilitation Research, National Rehabilitation Center, Ministry of Health & Welfare, 58 Samgaksan-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, 01022, South Korea.
Department of Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology, National Rehabilitation Center, Ministry of Health & Welfare, 58 Samgaksan-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, 01022, South Korea.
Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 21;13(1):15721. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-41815-w.
Ankle joint is one of important contributors on balance in stroke survivors. This study aimed to investigate the relationships of ankle stiffness symmetry ratios along the talocrural and subtalar axes with clinical balance measures and weight distribution during quiet standing in ambulatory chronic post-stroke survivors. The clinical trials involved 15 ambulatory elderly with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis and 15 healthy controls. Ankle stiffness was evaluated during non-weight-bearing isokinetic passive biaxial ankle movements, and ankle stiffness symmetry ratios between paretic and non-paretic ankle stiffness (SR: Inversion/Eversion SR & Dorsi-/Plantarflexion SR) were measured. A certified physiotherapist evaluated the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and weight-distribution ratio (WDR) on bilateral force plates during quiet standing. Correlation coefficients, the factor analysis, and Pearson linear multiple regression were assessed with measured parameters. Correlation coefficients showed significances in-betweens; BBS and SR (r = -0.543, p = 0.022), WDR and SR (r = -0.667, p = 0.004), SR and SR (r = -0.604, p = 0.011). The exploratory factor analysis suggested four extracted factors; (1) Balance & Gait, (2) Stroke, (3) Symmetry and (4) Dimension. The first and second factors include general and pathological characteristics in stoke participants respectively. The third factor is associated with symmetrical characteristics explaining up to 99.9% of the variance. Multiple regression analysis showed ankle stiffness ratios predict BBS up to 60% of variance. The biaxial ankle stiffness ratio is a useful clinical variable that assesses balance function, in ambulatory chronic stroke survivors.
踝关节是脑卒中幸存者平衡的重要贡献者之一。本研究旨在探讨沿距下和跗跖关节的踝刚度对称比与慢性脑卒中后偏瘫患者在安静站立时的临床平衡测量和体重分布的关系。临床试验涉及 15 名慢性脑卒中偏瘫的活动能力老年人和 15 名健康对照者。在非负重等速双轴被动踝关节运动期间评估踝刚度，测量患侧和非患侧踝刚度之间的踝刚度对称比（SR：内翻/外翻 SR 和背屈/跖屈 SR）。一名认证物理治疗师在双侧力板上评估 Berg 平衡量表（BBS）和体重分布比（WDR）在安静站立时的情况。使用测量参数评估相关系数、因子分析和 Pearson 线性多元回归。相关系数显示出在两个因素之间的显著性；BBS 和 SR（r=-0.543，p=0.022），WDR 和 SR（r=-0.667，p=0.004），SR 和 SR（r=-0.604，p=0.011）。探索性因子分析表明有四个提取的因素；（1）平衡和步态，（2）中风，（3）对称，（4）维度。第一和第二个因素分别包含中风参与者的一般和病理特征。第三个因素与对称特征有关，可解释高达 99.9%的方差。多元回归分析表明，踝刚度比可预测 BBS 高达 60%的方差。双轴踝关节刚度比是评估慢性脑卒中后偏瘫患者平衡功能的有用临床变量。
