Abstract
[Purpose] We investigated the relationships between hip extension angle and weight bearing on the sole of the foot when performing bridging exercises, and standing and locomotion ability, in different diseases. [Subjects] The subjects were 47 femoral neck fracture patients and 36 cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients. [Methods] The patients were divided into groups according to their standing and locomotion abilities, and the hip extension angles and weight-bearing ratios (WBR) of the groups were compared in single-leg and two-legged bridging. The CVA patients’ values were also compared with their Brunnstrom stage. [Results] For both groups of patients, locomotion and standing ability-dependent differences were found in WBR and hip extension angles in bridging with both legs and single-leg bridging with the affected side; however, CVA patients did not show significant differences in WBR or angle in bridging with the unaffected side. Many of the Brunnstrom stage VI patients had high standing and locomotion abilities. [Conclusion] There is a possibility that the WBR of single-leg bridging with the unaffected side does not sufficiently reflect the locomotion ability of CVA patients.
