Effects of Water Exercise on the Foot Pressure Distribution of a Female Adult with Hemiplegia: A Biomechanical Case Study

Abstract

This case study was conducted to determine the effects of water exercise on the foot pressure distribution (FPD) of persons who have a hemiplegia. A 43-year old female with hemiplegia acquired at the age of 3 years was selected from a local disability program. A 12-week water exercise program (60 min. per session and twice a week) focusing on gait training was developed and implemented as the intervention of this study. A recent product of the Pedar-X (Novel, Germany) was used to measure the FPD of hemiplegic gait before and after the intervention. Variables considered in this study included the average pressure (AP), contact area (CA), maximum pressure (MP), ground reaction force (GRF), and center of pressure (COP). The data collected were analyzed via the descriptive statistics and qualitative analyses on the graphical presentations of the FPD. Results revealed that the AP and CA of the hemiplegic foot was considerably increased before and after the intervention. Similar results were also found in the MP and GRF. Additionally, the graphical route of the COP related to hemiplegic foot was changed in a positive way after the intervention. It can be concluded that water exercise may be beneficial to restore hemiplegic gait. Limitations related to measurement and generalizability are further discussed.