The Effects of Stepping Exercises on a Box or Stairs on Stroke Patients Lower Limb Muscle Activity and Balance

Background/Objectives:This study examined the effects of stepping exercises on stroke patients with decreased balance ability and gait disorder in terms of muscle activity and balance during gait. Methods/Statistical analysis: The 33 subjects who consented to participate in this study were randomly divided into a box-stepping exercise group, a stair-stepping exercise group, and a ground-stepping exercise group. The stepping exercises were applied three times per week for eight weeks. To measure the muscle activity of the subjects, the TeleMyo Desktop Direct Transmission (DTS) system (Noraxon, German) was employed, and to measure the balance of the subjects, AP1153 Biorescue (RM INGENIERIE, France) was utilized to measure sway area, distance, and velocity. Findings:The resulting changes in activity were significant after exercise in all three groups. Balance change, sway area, sway distance, and sway velocity significantly decreased in all three groups, but there was relatively greater reduction of sway area, sway distance, and sway velocity in the box-stepping exercise group. Improvements/Applications: In particular, box-stepping exercises resulted in increased activity of the rectus femoris muscle and theperoneus muscle; therefore, it is considered an exercise for stability of the knees and ankles and is helpful for balance improvement and increasing balance ability.