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Effects of one-point and four-point canes on balance and weight distribution in patients with hemiparesis

Physical Therapy Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

Objective: To examine the effects of one-point and four-point canes on postural sway and on the distribution of weight between the lower extremities and the walking aids in hemiparetic patients.

Setting: Flieman Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Haifa, Israel.

Subjects: Thirty hemiparetic patients following a unilateral stroke, with moderate functional impairment, and 20 age-matched healthy subjects.

Intervention: Subjects were tested on two forceplates, which were placed at a 30° angle from each other with the heel end of the plates separated by 3 cm. Each subject was tested under three conditions: with no cane, with a one-point cane, and with a four-point cane. Testing time was 30 seconds, and order of testing was randomized.

Outcome measures: Weight borne by the lower extremities and by the walking aids expressed as a percentage of overall body weight, and Sway Index indicating vertical pressure ‘uctuations over both feet.

Results: In both subject groups, the one-point cane did not reduce sway signi"cantly in comparison with no cane, while the four-point cane reduced sway signi"cantly in comparison with both no cane and one-point cane. Neither cane type affected weight-bearing on the paretic leg, while signi"cantly reducing weight-bearing on the uninvolved extremity. Mean percentage of body weight on the four-point cane was signi"cantly higher than on the one-point cane

Conclusions: A four-point cane increases stability of moderately involved hemiparetic patients during stance more than a one-point cane. The noted shift of weight toward the walking aid does not adversely affect weight-bearing on the paretic limb.

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