ABSTRACT
Background
How the weight-bearing asymmetry pattern and related maximum lateral weight-bearing capacity, physical functions, balance, and mobility involved in weight-bearing asymmetry and lesions are related to weight-bearing asymmetry in patients with early-onset stroke remains unclear.
Objective
To investigate the difference between weight-bearing in the early phase after stroke categorized as symmetrical or nonsymmetrical regarding impairments, balance, walking, and independence, and any lesion location difference.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 46 persons with hemiparetic stroke within 3 weeks from onset undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and classified into symmetrical, paretic, and non-paretic groups. We performed posturographic, functional, mobility, and lesion location assessments on participants once the evaluation was possible.
Results
The symmetrical, paretic, and non-paretic groups included 14, 11, and 21 patients, respectively. The non-paretic group had lesser mean % body weight in maximum lateral weight-bearing to the paretic direction (79% versus 55%, p < .001), motor function of the hip lower limb (64 versus 58, p = .003) per the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, Trunk Impairment Scale (18 versus 15, p = .020), and Berg Balance Scale (42 versus 32, p = .047) than the paretic group with more lesions in the insula (55% versus 0%, p < .001) and parietal cortex (36% versus 0%, p = .009) than the non-paretic group.
Conclusion
The non-paretic group had low dynamic balance, severe motor paresis, and trunk dysfunction. The paretic group had lesions in the insula or parietal cortex.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank all study participants, as well as our physical therapist for helping with participant assessment. This study was supported by funding for the Hidaka Project (approval number: 30-D-1-16 and 2-D-1-08) of the Saitama Medical University International Medical Center.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).