Chronological changes in trunk asymmetry during gait in hemiplegic stroke patient

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19864
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Terui Yoshino 秋田大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (30806344)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脳卒中 / 歩行 / 加速度計 / 体幹 / 左右非対称性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated changes in left-right asymmetry in trunk movement during walking in stroke patients. Lissajous Index (LI) was used to evaluate left-right asymmetry. LI is calculated from the acceleration of the trunk measured with a tri-axial accelerometer. The subjects were 52 stroke patients, and three measurements were taken at the initial, one month, and two months later. There were 26 in the LI improvement group and 26 in the non-improvement group. The muscle strength of the trunk was significantly increased in the improvement group compared with the non-improvement group. From the results of this study, it was clarified that it is necessary to improve trunk muscle strength in order to improve the left-right asymmetry of the trunk during walking in stroke patients.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳卒中患者の歩行中の左右非対称性は転倒リスクの増加など二次障害を引き起こす原因となる。本研究により、歩行中の体幹の動きの左右非対称性を改善させるためには、体幹、特に横隔膜の筋力増強が必要であることが明らかとなった。脳卒中患者のリハビリテーションにおいて、体幹筋力の増強の必要性は明らかであるが、横隔膜の筋力に着目したものは少ない。本研究の結果により、回復期リハビリテーションにおいて横隔膜を含めた吸気筋力を向上させるアプローチの導入を検討する一助になると考える。