Effects of the Abdominal Belt on the Center of Pressure (COP) during Sitting in Hemiplegic Patients

Abstract

With 15 cases of hemiplegia as subjects, we measured centre of pressure (COP) in maintenance of the upright sitting position at rest (resting task) and lateral reach in the sitting position (dynamic task), while wearing and not wearing an abdominal belt, and investigated and compared the results. In sitting at rest, maximum x-axis movement with the belt was 0.15 ± 0.06 cm, and was 0.22 ± 0.12 cm without the belt, a significantly (p<0.01) smaller distance with the belt. For lateral reach, the distance was 21.2 ± 5.1 cm with the belt, and 19.3 ± 5.6 cm without the belt, a significantly (p<0.05) greater distance with the belt. Despite the greater lateral reach with the abdominal belt, a significant difference in COP of the dynamic task between with and without the belt was not found. For left-right postural sway in maintenance of the sitting position and lateral reach of hemiplegic patients, an abdominal belt improves stability of the lower trunk, and lumbar spine, suggesting a beneficial effect of increased abdominal muscle pressure.