Affiliations: Brain Research and Rehabilitation Center Neuron,
Kuopio, Finland | Department of Health Sciences, the Finnish Centre for
Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Jyväskylä,
Jyväskylä, Finland
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Sinikka H. Peurala, PhD, The Finnish
Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences,
P.O. Box 35 (V374), FIN-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Tel.:
+358 14 260 2196; Fax: +358 14 260 4600; Gsm: +358 500 362 623; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Purpose: It is known that visuospatial orientation and the extent of
spontaneous recovery vary between right or left hemisphere affected stroke
patients. We hypothesized that the right hemisphere affected chronic patients
would show more impaired static balance than left hemisphere affected patients.
The purpose of the study was to assess displacement of the center of pressure
(COP) of ambulatory patients with either left or right hemiparesis. Methods: Forty-five patients and thirty healthy subjects participated and
static balance was measured while standing on a force plate. Results: The
patients showed more than four times higher mean velocity moment and two times
faster anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) speed of COP
displacement than healthy subjects. The patients with left hemiparesis, and
affected right hemisphere, had higher power peak magnitudes of COP
displacements than patients with right hemiparesis both in ML and AP directions
at low frequencies. The patients had higher power peak magnitudes of COP
displacements than healthy subjects in both ML and AP directions at all
separately analyzed frequency ranges. More weight bearing on the paretic side
was associated with less COP displacement in ML and AP directions. Conclusions: Patients with left hemiparesis have more low frequency COP
movements from side to side and from front to back than patients with right
hemiparesis. Patients with right or left hemiparesis sway more than the healthy
subjects. The affected hemisphere and the disturbed cerebral networks likely
produce different postural deficits in right or left hemiparetic patients.
