The Relationship between Gait Asymmetry and Respiratory Function in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study ()
Affiliation(s)
1Department of Rehabilitation, Akita University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Akita City, Akita, Japan.
2Department of Rehabilitation, Akita Prefectural Center for Rehabilitation and Psychiatric Medicine, Daisen City, Akita, Japan.
3Department of Physical Therapy, Akita Rehabilitation College, Akita City, Akita, Japan.
4Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Akita City Hospital, Akita City, Akita, Japan.
5Geriatric Health Services Facility Nikoniko-en, Akita City, Akita, Japan.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Gait asymmetry can become very pronounced in patients who have suffered a stroke. The impairment of trunk function in some
stroke patients can restrict thorax mobility and cause respiratory muscle
weakness. Trunk and neck dysfunction are believed to affect the gait in stroke
patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship
between gait asymmetry and respiratory function in stroke patients by measuring
the step time and trunk acceleration. METHODS: This study employed a
cross-sec- tional design. Thirty stroke patients participated in this study. The
symmetry index (SI) and Lissajous index (LI) were used to evaluate asymmetry
during walking. The respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength were
evaluated by spirometry. We examined the
relation between SI or LI and the respiratory function/respiratory
muscle strength in patients with stroke. RE- SULTS: The results of our analysis demonstrated that the SI was significantly
correlated with the inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength and the LI was significantly correlated with the
percentage of the predicted vital capacity (respectively, r = ﹣0.386, r = ﹣0.392, r = ﹣0.446; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study
is the first to indicate a relationship between gait asymmetry and respiratory
function in stroke patients.
Share and Cite:
Terui, Y. , Iwasawa, S. , Kikuchi, K. , Furukawa, Y. , Suto, E. , Uemura, S. , Satake, M. and Shioya, T. (2021) The Relationship between Gait Asymmetry and Respiratory Function in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study.
Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation,
9, 111-122. doi:
10.4236/ojtr.2021.94009.
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