DYNAMIC MUSCLE STRENGTH TRAINING IN STROKE PATIENTS - EFFECTS ON KNEEEXTENSION TORQUE, ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVITY, AND MOTOR FUNCTION

The effects of training with isokinetic maximal voluntary knee extensi ons were studied in stroke patients, Two groups of 10 patients each tr ained twice a week for 6 weeks. One group trained exclusively eccentri c movements and the other exclusively concentric movements. The effect s were evaluated from the following tests before and after the trainin g period, The maximal voluntary strength in concentric and eccentric a ctions of the knee extensor and flexor muscles was recorded together w ith surface electromyography at constant velocities of 60, 120, and 18 0 deg . s(-1) on three different days, The body weight distribution on the legs while rising and sitting down was measured with two force pl ates, The self-selected and maximal walking speeds and the swing to st ride ratio of the paretic leg were measured, After the training period , the knee extensor strength had increased in eccentric and concentric actions in both groups (p < .05), The eccentric and the concentric st rength in the paretic leg relative to that of the nonparetic leg incre ased in the eccentrically trained group (p < .05) but not in the conce ntrically trained group, The restraint of the antagonistic muscles in concentric movements increased after concentric (p < .05) but not ecce ntric training, A nearly symmetrical body weight distribution on the l egs in rising from a sitting position was noted after eccentric (p < . 05) but not concentric training, Changes in walking variables were not significantly different between the groups, Eccentric knee extensor t raining was thus found to have some advantages as compared to concentr ic training in stroke patients. (C) 1995 by the American Congress of R ehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine a nd Rehabilitation