Strength deficit of knee flexors is dependent on hip position in adults with chronic hemiparesis

Abstract

| Background: The extent to which muscle length affects force production in paretic lower limb muscles after stroke in comparison to controls has not been established. Objectives: To investigate knee flexor strength deficits dependent on hip joint position in adults with hemiparesis and compare with healthy controls. Method: a cross-sectional study with ten subjects with chronic (63±40 months) hemiparesis with mild to moderate lower limb paresis (Fugl-Meyer score 26±3) and 10 neurologically healthy controls. Isometric knee flexion strength with the hip positioned at 90° and 0° of flexion was assessed randomly on the paretic and non-paretic side of hemiparetic subjects and healthy controls. Subjects were asked to perform a maximal isometric contraction sustained for four seconds and measured by a dynamometer. The ratio of knee flexor strength between these two hip positions was calculated: Hip 0°/Hip 90°. Also, locomotor capacity was evaluated by the timed up and go test and by walking velocity over 10 meters. Results: In subjects with hemiparesis, absolute knee flexion torque decreased (p<0.001) with the hip in extension (at 0°). The ratio of knee flexor torque Hip 0°/Hip 90° on the paretic side in hemiparetics was lower than in controls (p=0.02). Conclusions: Weakness dependent on joint position is more significant in the paretic lower limb of adults with hemiparesis when compared to controls. More attention should be given to lower limb muscle strengthening exercises in individuals with stroke, with emphasis on the strengthening exercises in positions in which the muscle is shortened.Keywords: stroke; lower extremity; muscle weakness; physical therapy; rehabilitation. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLEMichaelsen SM, Ovando AC, Bortolotti A, Bandini B. Strength deficit of knee flexors is dependent on hip position in adults with chronic hemiparesis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2013 Jan-Feb; 17(1):86-91. http://dx

Does the Length of Elbow Flexors and Visual Feedback Have Effect on Accuracy of Isometric Muscle Contraction in Men after Stroke?

“…The analysis of the accuracy of generated muscle force in respect to target force revealed that healthy men and stroke survivors produced inaccurate force of elbow flexors of both arms in different muscle length with different visual feedback. The age of the subjects as well as intrinsic muscle properties after stroke could have the significant impact on these results [ 17 ].…”