Assessments of Isometric Trunk Extension Strength in Post Stroke Hemiplegic Patients

편마비 환자의 등척성 체간 신전 근력 평가

The purpose of this study was to evaluate isometric trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients, and to compare that with normal subjects to find a correlation between trunk extension strength and the functional independent degree in hemiplegic patients. Fifteen hemiplegic male patients (mean age $55.2{\pm}10.2$ years) and twenty-five healthy male subjects (mean age $54.6{\pm}10.3$ years) completed isometric trunk extension. Strength was measured at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 degrees of trunk flexion. The functional independent degree was assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Mean isometric trunk extension strength was 91.2 ft-lbs, 120.7 ft-lbs, 142.3 ft-lbs, 156.4 ft-lbs, 173.5 ft-lbs, 184.1 ft-lbs, and 195.3 ft-lbs in the hemiplegic patients group, and 135.6 ft-lbs, 175.6 ft-lbs, 204.4 ft-lbs, 221.9 ft-lbs, 231.2 ft-lbs, 246.8 ft-lbs, and 259.7 ft-lbs in the normal subjects group. The values of isometric trunk extension strength had a descending linear correlation pattern from trunk flexion angle to extension angle. Trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (p<.05) but did not correlate with the FIM total score (p>.05). Therefore, the isometric trunk extension strength in hemiplegic patients was lower than that of normal subjects and did not correlate with the functional independent degree.