Zhongguo quanke yixue (May 2022)
Effect of Modified Tai Chi on Gait Balance and Fall Performancein Hemiplegic Patients in Convalescent Period of Stroke
Abstract
Background Hemiplegia patients in the convalescent period of stroke generally have gait, balance dysfunction and the risk of falling, which seriously affects their daily living ability and prognosis. Traditional exercise therapy such as Tai Chi can play its unique advantages as an intervention, but there are different practice routines and insufficient evidence of evidence-based medicine, which limit its clinical application. Objective To observe the effect of modified Tai Chi on the disorder of gait and balance and fall efficacy in patients with hemiparesis in convalescent stage of stroke. Methods A total of 68 patients with hemiplegia in the convalescent stage of stroke who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine from June 2020 to July 2021 were selected and divided into an observation group (n=34) and a control group (n=34) by random number table method. On the basis of routine rehabilitation treatmentonboth groups, the control group received motor relearning program (MRP) , whereas the observation group received modified Tai Chi intervention, once a day, 30 min a time, and 5 days a week, for 8 weeks. The two groups were assessed before and after the intervention using Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity (LE-FMA) , 6-min walking test (6MWT) , Berg Balance Scale (BBS) , timed up and go test (TUGT) , modified Barthel index (MBI) , step length, frequency and speed, and modified fall efficacy scale (MFES) . Results One case dropped out in the observation group, and a total of 33 cases were included, while there was no dropout in the control group, and a total of 34 cases were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups on the results of LE-FMA, 6MWT, BBS, TUGT, MBI, step length, frequency and speed, and MFES before the treatment (P>0.05) . No significant difference was found in TUGT time and step length between the two groups after the treatment (P>0.05) . However, after the treatment, LE-FMA, BBS, MBI, MFES scores, step frequency and speed in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and 6MWT walking distance was longer (P<0.05) . Furthermore, LE-FMA, BBS, MBI, MFES scores, step frequency and speed after treatment were higher than those before treatment, 6MWT walking distance was longer and TUGT time was shorter than that before treatment (P<0.05) . Conclusion Modified Tai Chi can effectively improve gait and balance disorder and fall efficacy in patients with hemiparesis in the convalescent stage of stroke.
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