THE STANDING HEEL-RISE TEST IN PATIENTS WITH UPPER MOTOR-NEURON LESION DUE TO STROKE

The objective was to investigate the fatigue process in the triceps su rae during the heel-rise test (eccentric and concentric phases) in com parison ,vith a walking test and muscle strength. Eight men with prior stroke and 8 age-matched healthy men participated. The electromyograp hic activity in form of root mean square and mean power frequency of t he gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were measured and work estimated. Walking speed and maximal peak torque were measured and differed signi ficantly between the patient and reference groups. There were no signi ficant differences between the groups nor legs concerning the number o f heel-rises or work performed. In the eccentric phase, mean power fre quency decreased significantly more in the gastrocnemius than in the s oleus muscle in the reference group, while mean power frequency in the soleus muscle tended to decrease more, though non-significantly, in t he affected leg. The conclusion is that the capacity to perform the he el-rise test in patients with prior stroke is better than plantarflexo r peak torque and walking speed.