KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF GAIT PERFORMANCE & TRUNK BENDING IN STROKE PATIENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Background: The role of trunk muscles in healthy as well as in the hemiplegic patients is vital & can’t be denied. This study is based on the analysis of trunk, which is defined for this study as follow; the ability of the trunk to keep body up right against gravity during movements & as well as to find out the correlation between trunk functions & gait performance

Method: 20 study participants (10 hemiplegic & 10 healthy adults, Male, n=20, female, n=0) trunk functions were assessed by 3D motion analysis system. The musculature of the trunk was divided into; a) pelvis b) middle trunk c) upper trunk. The trunk analysis was based on clinical parameters, including; a) static standing b) in standing position anterior tilt of the trunk c) gait performance. The trunk functions relationship with the performance of gait was also assessed. The data was analysed on SPSS V. 23 with the P-value >0.005.

Results: the comparative data analysis of the study shows that during trunk bending greater angular rotation was found towards the non-involved side & middle trunk rotates towards the involved side at the time of toe off the involved limb in hemiplegic patient during gait. It has been observed that the degree of rotation was correlated with gait performance of the study subject. 

Conclusion; The result of the study can be concluded that middle trunk movements affect gait performance in hemiplegic patients. It has also been observed that gravity & lower limb movements considerably affected the function s of middle trunk in hemiplegic patients.