Conclusions : There is preliminary evidence that progressive resistance strength training programmes reduce musculoskeletal impairment after stroke .
Whether strengthening enhances the performance of functional activities or participation in societal roles remains unknown
Objective : To determine whether progressive resistance strength training reduces impairments , activity limitations and participation restrictions after stroke .
Dynamic muscle strength training in stroke patients: effects on knee extension torque, electromyographic activity, and motor function.
The effects of training with isokinetic maximal voluntary knee extensions were studied in stroke patients . Two groups of 10 patients each trained twice a week for 6 weeks . One group trained exclusively eccentric movements and the other exclusively concentric movements . The effects were evaluated from the following tests before and after the training period . The maximal voluntary strength in concentric and eccentric actions of the knee extensor and flexor muscles was recorded together with surface electromyography at constant velocities of 60 , 120 , and 180 deg.s-1 on three different days . The body weight distribution on the legs while rising and sitting down was measured with two force plates . The self-selected and maximal walking speeds and the swing to stride ratio of the paretic leg were measured . After the training period , the knee extensor strength had increased in eccentric and concentric actions in both groups ( p < .05 ) . The eccentric and the concentric strength in the paretic leg relative to that of the nonparetic leg increased in the eccentrically trained group ( p < .05 ) but not in the concentrically trained group . The restraint of the antagonistic muscles in concentric movements increased after concentric ( p < .05 ) but not eccentric training . A nearly symmetrical body weight distribution on the legs in rising from a sitting position was noted after eccentric ( p < .05 ) but not concentric training . Changes in walking variables were not significantly different between the groups . Eccentric knee extensor training was thus found to have some advantages as compared to concentric training in stroke patients
Conclusions : There is preliminary evidence that progressive resistance strength training programmes reduce musculoskeletal impairment after stroke .
Whether strengthening enhances the performance of functional activities or participation in societal roles remains unknown
Objective : To determine whether progressive resistance strength training reduces impairments , activity limitations and participation restrictions after stroke .