Functional recovery of gait and joint kinematics after right hemispheric stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To gain insight into the relation between changes in gait patterns over time and functional recovery of walking ability in stroke patients.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Inpatient rehabilitation center of a university hospital in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Thirteen stroke patients admitted, or awaiting admission, for inpatient rehabilitation 3 weeks poststroke, and 16 healthy control subjects.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
At 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 weeks poststroke, functional recovery of walking ability was assessed with the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC). When possible, kinematics of the knee, hip, and pelvis were assessed through gait analysis in an 8 x 4 m gait laboratory. Minimal scores of 8 on the RMI and 4 on the FAC were necessary before patients were classified as functionally recovered.


RESULTS
Patients whose joint kinematics during ambulation had recovered to within the range of the control group showed functional recovery of walking ability. However, some patients whose kinematics had developed toward an abnormal pattern also showed functional recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Recovery of joint kinematics toward a normal pattern is not required for functional recovery of walking ability. Early recognition of compensatory walking patterns that facilitate functional recovery may have implications for rehabilitation programs.
Huitema
Rients B
RB
Center for Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. R.B.Huitema@ppsw.rug.nl
Hof
At L
AL
Mulder
Theo
T
Brouwer
Wiebo H
WH
Dekker
Rienk
R
Postema
Klaas
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation