The relationship between lower-extremity muscle strength and functional performance in hemiparetic patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between involved lower extremity muscle strength and two functional tasks: gait ability and balance and motor skills in chronic stage of a stroke. In 2004, an analytical study was conducted in Tehran province, Iran. Participants were thirty-four hemiparetic patients secondary to stroke aging 52.41±6.19 years and 37±26.37 months since stroke. The isometric strength of seven muscle groups was measured with a hand-held dynamometer. Gait ability and balance and motor skills were evaluated using Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Timed get up and go tests, respectively. All muscle groups' strength, except for hip extensors (r = 0.16), were correlated significantly with the timed get up and go scores (r = 0.37-0.45). None of these muscle groups' strength, except for hip abductors (r = 0.34), were correlated with functional ambulation category test scores (r = -0.02-0.2). The results showed that all muscles' strength, except for hip extensors, were valid predictors of balance and motor skills and strength of hip abductors were valid predictors of gait ability. Our results are in support of using the involved lower extremity muscle strength measurements for evaluation of balance and motor skills and treatment of people in the chronic stage of a stroke.