Effect of eight-point binding in static balance and distribution of plantar pressure after stroke

ABSTRACT

The equinovarus foot is a common sequela after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), the biomechanical changes of hemiparetic ankle interfere in balance and body asymmetry after a stroke. Several resources are used to minimize these changes, among them stands out the eight-point binding, which aims to provide proprioceptive information and promote the biomechanical alignment of the ankle, thus acting against the mechanisms leading to equinovarus foot. However, there is still no evidence of the effect of eight-point binding in static balance and plantar pressure distribution of the hemiparetic ankle. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of eight-point binding on static balance and plantar pressure distribution in patients with hemiparesis due to stroke. To this end, we evaluated 30 subjects with chronic hemiparesis who were evaluated at three different times: without bandaging, with bandaging, and after five minutes of use of bandaging. The subjects were positioned on a force platform to assess balance and plantar pressure. For data analysis we used ANOVA for repeated measures, assuming α≤0.05 risk. There was no statistically significant difference in static balance and plantar pressure distribution after the use of eight-point binding in any of the evaluated moments in this study. It follows that a single application of the eight-point binding is not able to generate clinical changes in static balance and plantar distribution. It is suggested that further studies need to be conducted to examine the effect of prolonged use of eight-point binding.

Keywords:
Stroke; Orthotic Devices; Paresis; Postural Balance