Effects of kinesthetic illusion induced by visual stimulation on the ankle joint for sit-to-stand in a hemiparesis stroke patient: ABA’ single-case design

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesthetic illusion induced by visual stimulation to the paralyzed side ankle joint on the sit-to-stand of a hemiparesis stroke patient. [Participant and Methods] A 33-year-old male with left hemiparesis due to a right putamen hemorrhage participated. This study used the ABA’ single-case design. Phase A and A’ conducted only conventional physiotherapy. Phase B conducted kinesthetic illusion induced by visual stimulation and conventional physiotherapy. To create a kinesthetic illusion, a video image of the patient’s ankle joint dorsiflexion movement on the non-paralyzed side was inverted and placed on the patient’s paralyzed ankle. The patient observed this display for 5 min. We evaluated weight-bearing symmetry values during sit-to-stand, duration of sit-to-stand, trunk and ankle joint movement on the paralyzed side during sit-to-stand, active ankle dorsiflexion angle on the paralyzed side, and the composite spasticity score. [Results] The weight-bearing symmetry values, movement of the ankle dorsiflexion during sit-to-stand, active ankle dorsiflexion angle, and composite spasticity score were significantly improved in phase B as compared with phase A and the effect was sustained in phase A’. [Conclusion] Kinesthetic illusion induced by visual stimulation for a hemiparesis stroke patient affected the ankle dorsiflexion function, resulting in an improved asymmetry during sit-to-stand as assessed by weight-bearing symmetry values.