Effects of Foot Intrinsic Muscle Dynamic Stretching on Balance, Gait Parameters, and Dynamic Gait Index in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study (CONSORT)

Overview

Journal Medicine (Baltimore)

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2025 Feb 24

PMID 39993133

Authors

Younghwan Kwag

Donghwan Park

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Foot intrinsic muscle dynamic stretching intervention can correct balance ability and induce a change in spatiotemporal parameters gait ability. Our objective was to compare the effects of a 4-week program of foot intrinsic muscle dynamic stretching with those of lunge exercise on static balance, dynamic balance, gait parameters (velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length), and the dynamic gait index (DGI) in chronic stroke patients.

Methods: The participants were randomized to either the foot intrinsic muscle dynamic stretching (n = 10) or standard lunge exercise (n = 10) groups. Both groups performed 3 sets of lunge exercises 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Each set comprised 10 repetitions. Static and dynamic balance, gait parameters, and the DGI were measured after 4 weeks of training.

Results: After 4 weeks of training, the foot intrinsic muscle dynamic stretching group showed significant improvement in all outcome measures compared with the baseline (P < .05). Furthermore, timed up and go, velocity, step length, stride length, and DGI showed greater improvement in the foot intrinsic muscle dynamic stretching group than in the standard lunge exercise group (P < .05).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that foot intrinsic muscle dynamic stretching training improved dynamic balance, velocity, step lengths, stride length, and DGI in patients with chronic stroke.

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