Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the utility of our newly
devised method (incremental stand-up exerciseload)
to determine features of general endurance in
hemiplegic patients. Subjects/Patients: Participants
were 15 healthy adults and 15 hemiplegics,
with 13 men and 2 women in each group.Methods:
To evaluate endurance, the subjects were
required to assume a sitting position on a bed for 3
minutes and thereafter repeat standing-sitting
(SS) movements. Successively increasing loads
were imposed by increasing the frequency of repetition
of the SS movements. An expired gas analyzer
measured the magnitude of general
endurance. Results were compared between the
two groups using the anaerobic threshold (AT) as
an indicator. Results: The AT value was determinable
in 80% of subjects in both groups. The AT
values in hemiplegics (10.4±2.0 ml/min/kg) were
significantly (p<0.01) less than those (17.3±3.0
ml/min/kg) in controls. Time of imposition of the
load in hemiplegics (11 min 7 s±13 min 45 s) were
significantly (p<0.01) less than those (27 min 0 s±
7 min 36 s) in controls.
Conclusion: This newly devised method that
does not require special equipment is suitable to
examine general endurance in hemiplegic
patients.
