Does weight-shifting exercise improve postural symmetry in sitting in people with hemiplegia?

BACKGROUND: Weight-shifting exercise was empirically practised in correcting the biased posture of people with stroke-induced hemiplegia. OBJECTIVES: (1) Evaluate the loading symmetry at the buttock-seat interface as a reflection of a postural defect in sitting. (2) Investigate if weight-shifting exercises could correct the postural problem of people with hemiplegia. DESIGN: Control group design. PARTICIPANTS: 16 subjects with hemiplegia after stroke and 14 healthy individuals. PROCEDURES: Subjects were assessed for buttock-seat interface loading while in erect sitting using a seat pressure mapping system. Subjects with stroke then practised one session of weight-shifting exercise followed by a reassessment. RESULTS: The subjects with hemiplegia, particularly those with right hemisphere lesion, had more load borne at the buttock ipsilateral to the side of stroke lesion. The weight-shifting exercise did not produce an immediate improvement on the loading asymmetry. CONCLUSION: The exercise would require further investigation to clarify its benefits in treating postural problems after stroke.