1997 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 69-71
Nine old-hemiplegic patients who required an assistance in indoor walking performed 8-week muscle strengthening exercise, and the effect of exercise on the required time for 10-m walking was examined. The patients performed uniform movements at the angular velocity of 120°/sec on unaffected quadriceps muscle and hamstrings. After the exercise, the torque values (%BW) of quadriceps muscle and hamstrings were significantly increased at the angular velocity of 60°/sec, and the required time for 10-m walking became significantly shorter. This may result from the increase in standing stability of the unaffected side, as indicated in an elongation of one-leg standing time of the unaffected side. These results indicate that muscle strengthening exercise for the unaffected side is necessary for old-hemiplegic patients who are prone to disuse muscle atrophy; physical therapy program which targets activation of total daily activities will therefore play a pivotal role in the prevention.
