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The purpose of the study was to investigate the immediate effects of negative pressure soft tissue therapy on muscle tone, muscle stiffness and balance in patients with stroke. In total, 20 patients with stroke and assigned to the nega- tive pressure soft tissue therapy group (NPST, n=10) or, placebo-negative pressure soft tissue therapy group(Placebo-NPST, n=10). Both groups under- went NPST or placebo-NPST once a day during the experimental period. MyotonPRO was used to assess the parameters for muscle tone and stiffness. Biorescue was used to assess the parameters for balance. Each group showed improvements in muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and balance ability (p<.05). Especially, Muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and anterior length in the limit of stability were the significant improvement on NPST group (p<.05). The results of the study suggest that the NPST is effective in improving muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and balance ability in patients with stroke.

Keywords: Negative pressure soft tissue therapy, Muscle tone, Muscle Stiffness, Balance ability, Hemiplegia, Stroke

This study was conducted to identify the effect of negative pressure soft tissue treatment on muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and balance ability of the plantar flexor in patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. In conclusion, we found that such treatment had a positive effect on muscle tone, stiffness, and balance ability in patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. The results of this study suggest that negative pressure soft tissue therapy before functional exercise treatment can be effective in the functional recovery of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke.