Correlation between clinical and laboratory measures in chronic stroke subjects

Introduction Stroke is the interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing oxygen and nutrients supplies cut off. It may lead to brain damages and severe mobility impairments, such as stability impairment. This study aimed at verifying the relation among clinical and laboratory measures of balance and investigating their usefulness. Material and method Roemberg test was performed on 10 stroke (S) subjects (age: 69.4±8.2 years, BMI: 25.2±2.5 Kg/m2) and 10 control (C) subjects (age: 61.6±8.6 years, BMI: 27.3±2.2 Kg/m2), with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). The centre of pressure sway area (SA), ellipse containing 95% of the data (E), path (CoP) and velocity (CoPv) (anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions) were computed [1] (Matlab). The Tinetti Balance (TB); Berg Balance Test (BBT); and Time up and go Test (TUG) [2] were administered to S group. S and C groups were compared with the Student t-test. Pearson Correlation coefficient was computed between instrumental and clinical parameters (SPSS). Result Mean balance scale scores of S subjects were respectively: 13.4±3.6 for TB, 45.7±14.5 for BBT, 29.3 s for TUG. Some clinical and instrumental parameters were correlated: BBT with CoPv parameters in EC, CoP path AP and CoPv AP in EO; TUG with CoPv parameters and SA, both in EO (but not CoPv ML) and EC, CoP path AP in EO. Significant differences were found between S and C in all CoP parameters in EO, but only in CoP path and CoPv in AP direction in EC. Conclusion Only some clinical and instrumental assessments were related, indicating that they might measure different aspects of balance. Some balance alterations were related to visual condition. Balance analysis should be pursued considering both measurements.