RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDEPENDENT SITTING BALANCE AND TYPE OF STROKE IN PATIENTS WITH LEFT SIDED HEMIPARESIS

Background and introduction: Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the Western Hemisphere and the most common cause of adult disability and balance problems. The purpose of this study was to find the dependency of independent sitting balance on type of stroke (hemorrhagic or ischemic) in patients with left sided hemiparesis. Method: This was a study of 38 patients with onset of first stroke in their life who were different only in terms of stroke origin, infarction and hemorrhage. We assessed the sitting balance of all patients using the Trunk Control Test and divided them in three catagories: No Sitting Balance (0-24), fair sitting balance (36-61), good sitting balance (62-100). Then, we analyzed the results to find the relation between type of stroke and sitting balance. Results: 38 patients with left-sided weakness, 20 patients had hemorrhagic stroke and 18 had ischemic stroke. Out of 20 patients of hemorrhagic stroke, 11 (55%) could sit and out of that also, 6 could sit independently and 5 could sit with little support while 9 (45%) could not sit at all. In case of patients with ischemic stroke, out of 18 patients, 9 (50%) could sit but from that 4 could sit independently and 5 required some support. Cross tabulation and chi-square revealed no relationship between type of hemorrhage and independent sitting balance in patients with left-sided hemi paresis (X2=0.296, p>0.05). Conclusion: This suggests that stroke type should not be taken into consideration as a factor in sitting balance assessment and further retraining of hemiparetic stroke survivors. No relationship exists between type of stroke and sitting balance in patients with left sided hemiparesis.