http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10847573
Abstract
The hypotheses have been tested that 1) symmetry of weightbearing in persons who have sustained a stroke could be improved by the addition of a lift to the shoe on the non-paretic lower limb and 2) compelled weightbearing resulting from the addition of a lift in conjunction with targeted exercise helps to overcome the learned disuse of the paretic limb. Weightbearing on the paretic side was measured in eight persons with hemiparesis during quiet standing and in conditions of compelled weight shift. Compelled weight shifts were applied with special lifts to the shoe on the non-paretic limb of the subjects. An increase in symmetrical weightbearing was recorded in conditions of compelled weight shifts: 10-mm lift provided the best symmetry of bipedal standing. We suggest that improved symmetry of bipedal standing obtained with the lift of the non-paretic limb would help in overcoming the learned disuse of the affected limb. Pre- and post-test results of a person with hemiparesis who was wearing a shoe lift on the non-paretic limb during a 6-week physical therapy program showed statistically significant improvement of walking speed, stride length, and weightbearing. Such findings support the idea of using compelled weightbearing via lifting and targeted exercise during treatment.Only to be done with your doctors supervision, I could easily see this causing falls.
I'm going to bring this one up with my PT. My gait is so off and I am having increasing problems with my "non-affected" right side to the point where I can walk only a fraction of what I could a year ago because of pain in my right hip and leg.
ReplyDeleteLinda in Winnipeg
So Linda, this was written in 2000 your PT should have known about this for years.
ReplyDeleteThis guy would have just been graduating high school then! lol
ReplyDeleteMainly we have been working on my balance issues.
I was already thinking I should look at different styles of runners. It is very noticeable how much better I cope with my lace up ankle covering boots on than in my runners. I think my PT is really close to trying to get me back into an ankle support.
That actually makes it worse since that would mean that the PT instructors are not keeping up with current research. They should be mentioning what is new and what has either been proven or not proven. Just shows you how badly stroke rehabilitation is kept up-to-date.
ReplyDelete