AyÅŸe ÃœNAL, Filiz ALTUÄž, ErdoÄŸan KAVLAK, UÄŸur CAVLAK
ABSTRACT
AIM: Present study aimed to compare balance ability in patients with single lesion of either the right or the left hemisphere.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of fifty hemipheric lesion survivors (25 patients with right hemispheric lesion-Group 1, 25 patients with left hemispheric lesion-Group 2) were included in this study.The Barthel Index(BI) was used to determine independency level of the sample.The following tests were used to evaluate their balance ability:(1)One leg stand test and Portable Computerized Kinesthetic Ability Trainer(Sport-KAT 550) were used to static balance measurement. (2)Timed Up-Go test, 10-meter walk test,Sit-to-stand test and Berg Balance Scale(BBS) were used to for dinamic balance assessment.
RESULTS: The in-dependency level of two groups was similar.The results showed that the patients with left hemispheric lesion had better scores for balance measurements(p≤0.05).
CONCLUSION: The patients with lesion of either the right or the left hemisphere perform balance ability poorly. Hemispheric lesion location is related to balance disturbances in brain lesion survivors. There is effect of lesion location on severity of balance impairments. This study is important to create data bank for health professionals dealing with this issue. Rehabilitation programs should be revised in the light of the data obtained.
Keywords: Hemispheric Lesion, Hemiparesis, Balance