Head and pelvic movements during in sitting: Implications for physical a dynamic reaching task therapists

Objectives: To describe the distance reached, speed, and movement of the he ad and pelvis of healthy volunteers; to describe any influence of age on th ese variables; and to compare healthy volunteers and subjects with hemipleg ia while performing a seated reaching task. Design: Age-matched, case-control study. Setting: Gait laboratory in a general hospital. Participants: A convenience sample of 53 healthy volunteers (30 women; 23 m en; mean age, 57yr; range, 30-79yr) and 5 subjects with hemiplegia (2 women , 3 men; mean age, 65yr; range, 60-78yr) were recruited within 6 weeks post stroke. Interventions: Participants sat on a bench with feet supported and reached laterally as far as they could without falling. Main Outcome Measures: The speed, distance reached, and angular movements o f the head and pelvis were recorded by using the 3-dimensional movement ana lysis system. Results: A significant age-related reduction in the distance reached (p < . 001), velocity of the movement (p = .000), and pelvic tilt used (p < .01) w as found among healthy volunteers. Comparison of data from healthy voluntee rs and subjects with hemiplegia showed a significant reduction in the angul ar movements of the heads of subjects with hemiplegia. Conclusions: The findings suggest conservation of movement with increasing age and stroke. This movement reduction could have negative effects on a su bject's ability to make postural changes in response to disturbance and act ivity. Such information may assist therapists to gain insight into the natu re of balance deficits and the adaptive behavior that could result.