2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (35): 5646-5651

Differential analysis of plantar pressure parameters of lower limbs in stroke patients with different cerebral hemispheric injuries

Wang Yaoting1, Lu Yan1, Yao Jiaqin2, Yang Chunhua1, Xu Wenjing1, Wang Hongyu3   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Plantar pressure can effectively assess static standing balance function after stroke. Different hemispheric injuries may cause different plantar pressure performance.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference in plantar pressure parameters under static standing in stroke patients with different hemispheric injuries and healthy people.
METHODS: A total of 11 stroke patients with right brain injury (RHD group), 15 stroke patients with left brain injury (LHD group), and 12 healthy subjects (healthy group) were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College. A footwork dynamic foot force platform was used to detect the plantar dynamic (mean and maximum pressure symmetry index and their corresponding asymmetry index values) and kinematic parameters (center of pressure sway trajectories, including ellipse area, anteroposterior and mediolateral displacement, and corresponding symmetry index values) of each subject during static standing. Each measurement lasted for 10 seconds. Three measurements were conducted in total and their mean values were calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the healthy group, the mean pressure symmetry index of the forefoot in the RHD group, the maximum pressure symmetry index of the forefoot, and the mean and maximum pressure symmetry indexes of the heel in the LHD group were significantly increased under eyes-open conditions (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the healthy group, there was a significant increase in the mean pressure symmetry index of the forepfoot and the mean and maximum pressure symmetry indexes of the heel in the RHD (P < 0.05) as well as in the maximum pressure symmetry index of the forefoot and the mean and maximum pressure symmetry indexes of the heel in the LHD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) under eyes-closed conditions. (3) The ellipse area and mediolateral displacement symmetry index in the eyes-open state and the mediolateral displacement symmetry index in the eyes-closed state were significantly decreased in the LHD group compared with the healthy group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (4) The ellipse area and anteroposterior and mediolateral displacement amplitudes were significantly increased in the RHD and LHD groups compared with the healthy group under eyes-closed conditions (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (5) Compared with the eyes-open conditions, the anteroposterior displacement amplitude was significantly increased in the RHD group under the eyes-closed conditions, and the ellipse area and anteroposterior and mediolateral displacement amplitudes were significantly increased in the LHD group under the eyes-closed conditions (P < 0.01). (6) To conclude, most stroke patients with left or right hemispheric injury shift their body mass to the healthy side to maintain the body balance, and the force magnitudes of the forefoot and heel are lower on the affected side than the healthy side. Irrespective of unilateral spatial neglect factors, patients with left hemispheric injury have worse balance control on the affected side than the healthy side, and visual information has a greater influence on their static standing stability.
Key words: stroke, left and right brain, dynamic parameter, kinematic parameter, symmetry index, plantar pressure, eyes open, eyes closed, static balance