JRM (DF+TUG).pdf (331.84 kB)
Download fileAnkle Dorsiflexion, Not Plantarflexion Strength, Predicts the Functional Modility of People with Spastic Hemiplegia
journal contribution
posted on 2014-02-10, 00:00 authored by Shamay S. M. Ng, Christina W. Y. Hui-ChanObjective: To determine the relationships between affected ankle dorsiflexion strength, other ankle muscle strength measurements, plantarflexor spasticity, and Timed "Up & Go" (TUG) times in people with spastic hemiplegia after stroke.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Setting: A university-based rehabilitation centre.
Participants: Seventy-three subjects with spastic hemiplegia.
Main outcome measures: Functional mobility was assessed using TUG times. Plantarflexor spasticity was measured using the Composite Spasticity Scale. Affected and unaffected ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion strength were recorded using a load-cell mounted on a foot support with the knee bent at 50 degrees and subjects in supine lying.
Results: TUG times demonstrated strong negative correlation with affected ankle dorsiflexion strength (r=-0.67, p <= 0.001) and weak negative correlations with other ankle muscle strength measurements (r=-0.28 to -0.31, p <= 0.05), but no significant correlation with plantarflexor spasticity. A linear regression model showed that affected ankle dorsiflexion strength was independently associated with TUG times and accounted for 27.5% of the variance. The whole model explained 47.5% of the variance in TUG times.
Conclusion: Affected ankle dorsiflexion strength is a crucial component in determining the TUG performance, which is thought to reflect functional mobility in subjects with spastic hemiplegia.
Funding
This study was supported by the Health Service Research Fund (reference K-ZK34) from the Food and Health Bureau, The Hong Kong Government to Christina W.Y. Hui-Chan and her team.
History
Publisher Statement
© 2013 by Foundation for Rehabilitation Information, Journal of Rehabilitation MedicinePublisher
Foundation for Rehabilitation InformationLanguage
- en_US