Strength deficit of knee flexors is dependent on hip position in adults with chronic hemiparesis

BACKGROUND: The extent to which muscle length affects force production in paretic lower limb muscles after stroke in comparison to controls has not been established. OBJECTIVES: To investigate knee flexor strength deficits dependent on hip joint position in adults with hemiparesis and compare with healthy controls. METHOD: a cross-sectional study with ten subjects with chronic (63±40 months) hemiparesis with mild to moderate lower limb paresis (Fugl-Meyer score 26±3) and 10 neurologically healthy controls. Isometric knee flexion strength with the hip positioned at 90° and 0° of flexion was assessed randomly on the paretic and non-paretic side of hemiparetic subjects and healthy controls. Subjects were asked to perform a maximal isometric contraction sustained for four seconds and measured by a dynamometer. The ratio of knee flexor strength between these two hip positions was calculated: Hip 0°/Hip 90°. Also, locomotor capacity was evaluated by the timed up and go test and by walking velocity over 10 meters. RESULTS: In subjects with hemiparesis, absolute knee flexion torque decreased (p
Source: Revista Brasileira de Fisioterapia - Category: Physiotherapy Source Type: research