Symetric and weight-transfer of hemiplegic: its relation with performance in hemiplegics functional activities

Abstract

One of the most common locomotion deficit identified in hemiplegic people is the tendency to maintain asymmetrical posture, with a decreased weight bearing on the side involved and body weight shift towards the non-paretic side. This condition is not favorable to obtain postural control and its is an obstacle to orientation and stance stability to perform trunk and lim movements. Considering that performing daily and social activities entails such control, this research aims to propose an assessment to evaluate this condition and its relation with the hemiplegic´s ability to perform functional activities in daily and social tasks. The proposed assessment resulted in a systems protocol composed by relevant items to verify these conditions in sitting and standinf postures. The assessment of symmetry and weight transfer was used in 50 hemiplegic subjects with direct testing. Daily and social activities were also assessed by interviews using a modified  Bathel Index (IBm) and Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), respectively. The results from these assessments were codified in numerical values and these were analyzed on statistic programs. The results demonstrated a positive correlation between the assessment of the symmetric and transferred weight with IBm (r=0,76) and FAI (r=0,64) demonstrating that this condition is one of the aspects to be considered when we aim to achieve autonomy and independence in functional activities.