TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of walking endurance reduction on gait stability in patients with stroke
AU - Iosa, M.
AU - Morone, G.
AU - Fusco, A.
AU - Pratesi, L.
AU - Bragoni, M.
AU - Coiro, P.
AU - Multari, M.
AU - Venturiero, V.
AU - De Angelis, D.
AU - Paolucci, S.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Control of gait is usually altered following stroke, and it may be further compromised by overexertion and fatigue. This study aims to quantitatively assess patients' gait stability during six-minute walking, measuring upper body accelerations of twenty patients with stroke (64 ± 13 years old) and ten age-matched healthy subjects (63 ± 10 years old). Healthy subjects showed a steady gait in terms of speed and accelerations over the six minutes. Conversely, the patients unable to complete the test (n = 8) progressively reduced their walking speed (- 22 ± 11%, confidence interval CI95%: -13, -29%, P = 0.046). Patients able to complete the test (n = 12) did not vary their walking speed over time (P = 0.493). However, this ability was not supported by an adequate capacity to maintain their gait stability, as shown by a progressive increase of their upper body accelerations (+ 5 ± 11%, CI95%: -1; +12%, P = 0.010). Walking endurance and gait stability should be both quantitatively assessed and carefully improved during the rehabilitation of patients with stroke.
AB - Control of gait is usually altered following stroke, and it may be further compromised by overexertion and fatigue. This study aims to quantitatively assess patients' gait stability during six-minute walking, measuring upper body accelerations of twenty patients with stroke (64 ± 13 years old) and ten age-matched healthy subjects (63 ± 10 years old). Healthy subjects showed a steady gait in terms of speed and accelerations over the six minutes. Conversely, the patients unable to complete the test (n = 8) progressively reduced their walking speed (- 22 ± 11%, confidence interval CI95%: -13, -29%, P = 0.046). Patients able to complete the test (n = 12) did not vary their walking speed over time (P = 0.493). However, this ability was not supported by an adequate capacity to maintain their gait stability, as shown by a progressive increase of their upper body accelerations (+ 5 ± 11%, CI95%: -1; +12%, P = 0.010). Walking endurance and gait stability should be both quantitatively assessed and carefully improved during the rehabilitation of patients with stroke.
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U2 - 10.1155/2012/810415
DO - 10.1155/2012/810415
M3 - Article
C2 - 21966598
AN - SCOPUS:81255135073
JO - Stroke Research and Treatment
JF - Stroke Research and Treatment
SN - 2090-8105
M1 - 810415
ER -