Effects of Shoe Lift on Weight Bearing in Stroke Patients
Wasuwat Kitisomprayoonkul MD*, Sasiya Cheawchanwattana MD*, Siriporn Janchai MD*, Permsab E-Sepradit MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University ** Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Objectives : To determine the effect of shoe lift, cueing and cueing with shoe lift on weight bearing in paretic leg
of stroke hemiparetic patients and compare the effect between each condition
Design : Cross-sectional experimental study
Setting : Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medi-
cine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University
Subject : Ten hemiparetic patients as a result of unilateral stroke
Materials and Methods : Weight symmetry of each patient was measured by posturography during quiet stance
and in conditions of compelled weight shift. Each patient was started with quiet standing, standing with shoe
lift under the sound leg; cueing and cueing with shoe lift under the sound leg respectively. Weight symmetry
scores were recorded for comparing the weight distribution between each foot.
Results : There were 10 hemiparetic patients. Seven were male. The average age was 53.4 ± 8.45 years. There
were 5 right hemiparesis and 5 left hemiparesis. The average onset was 12.3 ± 15.73 months. In the right
hemiparetic patients, weight bearing in the paretic leg was significantly improved when cueing with shoe lift
compared with quiet standing and with shoe lift (Backward p = 0.012, Forward p = 0.011 and Backward p =
0.001, Forward p = 0.036 respectively). In the left hemiparetic patients, weight bearing in the paretic leg was
significantly improved when cueing compared with quiet standing (Backward p = 0.046), and when using the
shoe lift (Backward p = 0.016). Cueing with shoe lift could significantly improve weight bearing in the paretic
leg when compared with shoe lift alone (Backward p = 0.015). Shoe lift alone could improve weight bearing
in the paretic leg of the right and left hemiparetic patients but was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
Conclusion : Cueing with shoe lift under the sound leg can significantly improve weight bearing of the paretic
leg of the right and left stroke hemiparetic patients.
Keywords : Stroke rehabilitation, Hemiparesis, Weight bearing, Shoe lift
