Gait Performance with Compensatory Adaptations in Stroke Patients with Different Degrees of Motor Recovery

Chia Ling Chen*, Hsieh Ching Chen, Simon Fu Tan Tang, Ching Yi Wu, Pao Tsai Cheng, Wei Hsien Hong

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

122 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Gait patterns vary among stroke patients. This study attempted to discover gait performance with compensatory adaptations in stroke patients with different degrees of motor recovery. Design: Data were gathered from 35 stroke patients and 15 healthy subjects. Gait performance and motor recovery were assessed 6 mos after stroke. Stroke patients further were divided into poor and good groups. The walking velocity was correlated with Brunnström's stages, and the temporal stride and motion variables of the two groups were compared. Results: Walking velocity was positively correlated with the Brunnström's stages of the proximal lower limb. The poor group displayed slower walking velocity and shorter single-support time compared with the good group. Both groups displayed low maximum excursion of hip extension and ankle plantar-flexion during the stance phase and low maximum excursion of hip and knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion during the swing phase. Moreover, both groups displayed excessive pelvic tilts during the stance and swing phases. However, the poor group displayed different pelvic motion and timing sequences to each peak joint angle from normal subjects and the good group. Peak hip and knee angles of the affected limb during the stance phase occurred almost simultaneously in this group. Conclusions: Selective control of the proximal lower limb may be the main determinant of walking velocity. The compensatory adaptations were similar, except for pelvic motion, in stroke patients with different levels of motor recovery, whereas the poor group walked with synergistic mass patterns and reduced stability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)925-935
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume82
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 2003

Keywords

  • Cerebrovascular Accident
  • Gait Analysis
  • Kinematic
  • Motor Recovery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gait Performance with Compensatory Adaptations in Stroke Patients with Different Degrees of Motor Recovery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this