Open Versus Closed Kinetic Chain Exercise: a Comparison of Walking Capacity in Chronic Post-Stroke Phase

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The chronic post-stroke phase is often accompanied by various sensory, cognitive, motoric, coordination, and balance impairments. Decreased strength and motoric control contribute to walkingcapacity in patients with stroke. Open Kinetic Chain (OKC) and Closed Kinetic Chain (CKC) were reported to improve strength, functional mobility and balance in the chronic post-stroke phase. However, there is aphysiologically differences between CKC and OKC exercise. This study aims to compare the result of two methods of progressive resistant training (PRT) on walking capacity in the chronic post-stroke phase.Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental pre- and post-controlled trial group design. Twenty subjects were randomized into two groups of equal size: the CKC group (n=10) and the OKC group (n=10). Therewas one subject from each group who dropped out at the end of the study. CKC and OKC groups were trained for 6 weeks. The walking capacity was measured with 2 Minutes Walking Test (2WMT).Results: 2WMT results showed improvement in both groups after 6 weeks of intervention, while CKC group show greater improvement in walking distance 56,17 ± 10,95  to 57,43 compared to OKC group57,04 ± 8,58 to 58,19 ± 8,77 (p<0.002).Conclusions: This study shows CKC group showed slightly better improvement in walking capacity after 6 weeks of progressive resistance training compare to OKC group. However, there were no statisticallydifferences between the groups