The Effects of Self-Ankle Mobilization with Movement on Ankle Passive Range of Motion, Balance, Gait and Activities of Daily Living for Patients with Chronic Stroke after Four-Week Interventions. A Randomized Controlled study

A total of twenty four patients with stroke from Kyong-in Hospital, Incheon, volunteered to participate in this study. A randomized controlled trial design was used and participants were divided into the self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board (n = 12) self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups (n = 12). There were no subjects who were excluded during the experiment. There were twelve males and twelve females, enrolled in this study. Self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups subjects were a mean 57.6 years of age, 164.6 cm in height, and 63.8 kg in weight. Self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board groups subjects were a mean 64.1 years of age, 165.4 cm in height, and 63.0 kg in weight. There was no significant adverse reaction occurring during the study. After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, the ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion was significantly increased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and the post-treatment ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion was significantly higher in the self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board group than self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups (P = 0.033). After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, static balance ability was significantly decreased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and the post-treatment static balance ability was significantly lower in the self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board group than self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups (P = 0.001).After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, Berg balance scale score was significantly increased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and Berg balance scale scores did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.079). After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, gait speed was significantly increased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and the post-treatment gait speed was significantly higher in the self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board group than self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups (P = 0.001). After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, cadence was significantly increased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and the post-treatment cadence was significantly higher in the self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board group than self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups (P = 0.001). After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, step length was significantly increased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and the post-treatment affected side step length was significantly higher in the self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board group than self-mobilization with movement with 0 ° inclined board groups (P = 0.001). After 4 weeks of training, in both groups, stride length was was significantly increased after treatment compared to the baseline scores (P < 0.01), and stride length did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.352). The Korean version of the modified Barthel index scores did not significantly differ between the groups (P = 0.18), but they increased significantly after treatment compared to the baseline in both groups (P < 0.01) This study demonstrates that self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board training is better than self-mobilization with movement with 0° inclined board beneficial for improving motor development. Thus, self-mobilization with movement with 10 ° inclined board may be an effective treatment for chronic stroke patients.