The correlation between muscle activity of the quadriceps and balance and gait in stroke patients

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science Vol. 28; no. 8; pp. 2289 - 2292
• Main Authors: Yang, Dae Jung, Park, Seung Kyu, Uhm, Yo Han, Park, Sam Heon, Chun, Dong Whan, Kim, Je Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2016
• Subjects: Balance; Gait; Muscle activity; Original; Gait; Balance; Muscle activity
• ISSN: 0915-5287; 2187-5626
• DOI: 10.1589/jpts.28.2289

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between quadriceps muscle activity and balance and gait in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-five stroke patients (30 males 25 females; mean age 58.7 years; stroke duration 4.82 months; Korean mini-mental state examination score 26.4) participated in this study. MP100 surface electromyography, BioRescue, and LUKOtronic were used to measure the quadriceps muscle activity, balance, and gait, respectively. [Results] There was a significant correlation between quadriceps muscle activity (vastus lateralis % reference voluntary contraction, vastus medialis % reference voluntary contraction) and balance (limits of stability) and gait (gait velocity) but there was none between vastus lateralis % reference voluntary contraction, vastus medialis % reference voluntary contraction. [Conclusion] An increase in quadriceps muscle activity will improve balance and gait ability. To improve function in stroke patients, training is needed to strengthen the quadriceps muscles.