Comparison of Ultrasonographic Architectural Properties and Balance Ability Based on the Muscle Contraction of Chronic Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study is to compare the ultrasonographic architectural properties of muscles and balance ability based on the muscle contraction of chronic stroke patients. The subjects of this study were 30 chronic stroke patients were divided into 3 classes based on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), with 10 patients in each class. Ultrasonographic architectural properties and balance ability were measured using ultrasonographic and a balance measurement system, respectively. According to the study result, as the spasticity level increased, the muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length significantly decreased (p<.001), whereas the sway area, sway path, and sway average speed significantly increased (p<.001), based on each condition. This study presented that pathokinesiological characteristics of the medial gastrocnemius muscle should be taken into account in chronic stroke patients balance training.