Comparison of the effect of weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions on knee position sense in patients with chronic stroke

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the knee joint proprioception in weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) positions and to study the difference between the methods in chronic stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 15 stroke patients who were randomly scheduled to perform both positions by a physical therapist not involved in the study. The subjects performed the positions (WB and NWB) based on a randomized controlled cross-sectional design. WB subjects were positioned in one-leg standing to assess the knee joint position sense. NWB subjects were instructed to sit comfortably in a chair and maintain the knees at 90° of flexion with the leg out of the plinth. [Results] The results revealed that the WB position showed a significant difference in knee position sense. The proprioception sense in the WB position was a higher than that in the NWB position. [Conclusion] The knee proprioception of chronic stroke patients differs between the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.