Effects of 3-month Combined Functional Training at an Adult Day-care Facility on Lower Extremity Muscle Strength and Gait Performance in Community-dwelling People with Chronic Hemiplegia

Abstract

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low-frequency combined functional training over a 3-month period on lower extremity muscle strength and gait performance in community-dwelling people with chronic post-stroke hemiplegia.[Subjects] The subjects were 23 individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiplegia, utilizing the services of an adult day-care facility.[Methods] All subjects performed functional training programs consisting of stretching, strengthening, postural balance training, and gait training once or twice a week for 3 months. Leg muscle strength measured using a leg press machine at one repetition maximum (1RM), comfortable gait speed (CGS), maximal gait speed (MGS), and the difference between MGS and CGS (ΔGS) were assessed before and after intervention.[Results] Comparison of each outcome before and after intervention revealed significant increases in 1RM, CGS, MGS, and ΔGS. The change rate of ΔGS was correlated only with that of MGS.[Conclusion] Three-month combined functional training was effective at enhancing lower extremity muscle strength and gait performance, and ΔGS was increased by enhancement of MGS in community-dwelling people with chronic post-stroke hemiplegia.

Effects of different frequencies of rhythmic auditory cueing on the stride length, cadence, and gait speed in healthy young females

“…Gait rhythm perturbations are present in both the elderly and people with Parkinson disease (PD) and stroke. In order to solve the abovementioned problems, rhythmic cueing currently has achieved great progress in Parkinson and stroke treatment 2 ) . Moreover, rhythmic cueing is receiving much more attention with respect to improvement of walking ability in the elderly and fall prevention 3 ) .…”

The test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change of the short-form Barthel Index (5 items) and its associations with chronic stroke-specific impairments

“…The Barthel Index which is a basic daily activity assessment tool for stroke patients 5 ) was used. The BI consists of 10 items: personal hygiene, bathing, feeding, toilet use, stair climbing, dressing, bowel control, bladder control, ambulation or wheelchair mobility and chair/bed transfers.…”

“…Therefore, it is essential for clinicians and therapists to select appropriate assessment instruments to effectively evaluate patients’ performance of activities of daily living 2 , 3 , 4 ) . The Barthel Index 5 ) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) have been most frequently used to assess impairment levels in domestic and foreign clinics 6 ) . The FIM is known to be a more comprehensive and responsive assessment instrument for scoring impairments than the BI 7 ) .…”