2024 Volume 4 Pages 1-9
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between isometric leg press (LP) and knee extension (KE) muscle strength and the degree of walking independence in stroke patients, and to obtain assistance in the evaluation of lower limb muscle strength in patients with severe hemiplegia.
Methods: Fifty-one patients with first-episode stroke patients admitted to our hospital who were able to perform LP and KE measurements, excluding those with higher brain dysfunction such as hemi spatial neglect and aphasia, and those who had difficulty understanding the content of the test measurements. The muscle strength was measured using a traction manual muscle tester, and the leg extension muscle strength was measured in a sitting position with the patient sitting deeply in a chair with a backrest. At the time of measurement, the lower limb was raised on the seat of the chair placed in front of the patient, and with the knee joint flexed at 30 degrees. KE was measured using the belt fixation method. Gait independence was assessed using the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). An examination of the relationship between LP and KE and a partial correlation analysis between FAC and each muscle strength value with paralysis severity as a control variable were also performed.
Results: We found a high positive correlation between LP and KE and a moderate positive correlation between LP and KE on the paralyzed side and FAC. The partial correlation analysis also showed significant positive correlations.
Conclusion: LP in stroke patients was found to reflect walking independence as much as KE.
