• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.237-244
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• 2020

Sensory impairment is common following a stroke. Tactile afferent inputs from the plantar foot provide important information to the central nervous system to generate balance. The present study, which recruited 50 stroke patients, aims to determine the relationship between plantar tactile sensory threshold (PTST) and balance in patients with stroke. The PTST was evaluated at two sites (hallux and heel) using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. The balance abilities were measured by the degree of weight distribution in quiet standing (QS) and sitting-to-standing position (STS) using a MTD system and Berg balance scale (BBS). The hallux and heel sensory thresholds (ST) in the affected side were higher than the non-affected side (P < 0.05). The degree of weight distribution in the affected side was lower than the non-affected side. QS and STS showed P < 0.05, with BBS score of 36.00 ± 1.53. The hallux ST in the affected side correlated with BBS (r = -0.444, P < 0.05), QS (r = -0.332, P < 0.05), and STS (r = -0.390, P < 0.05), whereas the heel ST in the affected side correlated with BBS (r = -0.467, P < 0.05), QS (r = -0.532, P < 0.05), and STS (r = - 0.516, P < 0.05), suggesting that higher detected PTST might have an influence on the decreasing balance abilities. The study of sensory threshold in patients with stroke will help their rehabilitation and sensory evaluation.