Evaluation of lateral weight shift and relationship between a weight shift and locomotion performance

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the ability to utilize continuous weight shift (CWS) from side to side and measurements related to locomotion performance. Tests were performed on 17 hemiplegic subjects (age: 68 ±11 years) and 16 healthy subjects (age: 23.3 ± 5.4 years). Measurements comprised CWS ability, maximum walking speed, stride length, cadence, and one-footed standing duration. CWS ability was evaluated with displacement from center of stance (CWS index) during continuous CWS exercise. CWS index was 16.8± 1.9 cm in healthy subjects (range: 14.1 to 21.0 cm), 13.6± 5.5 cm in hemiplegic patients (range: 4.4 to 24.1 cm). A positive correlation was identified between CWS index and maximum walking speed (r = 0.60, p<0.05) in hemiplegic patients. The scatter plot between CWS index and one-footed standing indicated the characteristic distribution; there was a boundary near 15 cm for CWS index. One-footed standing for hemiplegic subjects with reach greater than 15 cm was almost above 30 s on both sides. CWS exercises should lead to improved walking ability and decreased falls in hemiplegic patients.