Changes in muscle group work associated with changes in gait speed of persons with stroke.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of associations between changes in muscle work with changes in gait speed could assist gait training in persons with stroke. The purpose of the study was to determine changes in the work of major muscle groups during gait that were associated with increases in walking speed of persons with stroke following training.


METHODS
The gait of 28 subjects (14 males, 14 females) with mean age of 64.2 (SD 11.7) years, at 4.8 (SD 6.9) years post stroke was studied using two-dimensional motion analysis before and after a strength training program. Outcome variables were changes in gait speed and changes in work associated with the hip flexors and extensors, knee flexors and extensors and ankle plantar flexors bilaterally. A stepwise linear regression analysis determined best positive work predictors of changes in gait speed.


RESULTS
Hip extension work in early stance and ankle plantarflexion work in late stance of the affected side accounted for 74.9% of the variance in change of gait speed; a second model showed that hip extension work in early stance of the affected and less-affected sides accounted for 74.3%, a similar amount of variance.


CONCLUSIONS
This work is the first to explore the changes in muscle work during gait that are associated with speed increases in persons with stroke. Augmenting hip extensor work in early stance on both sides, as well as ankle plantarflexion thrust on the affected side may be particularly beneficial in increasing the speed of walking of persons with stroke.
Parvataneni
Krishnaji
K
Motor Performance Group, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
Olney
Sandra J
SJ
Brouwer
Brenda
B
D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D004856:Postural Balance; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis