title: Gait asymmetry in community-ambulating stroke survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and severity of asymmetry among independently ambulating stroke survivors and to establish the association between velocity and asymmetry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research gait laboratory in a Canadian hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling, independently ambulating participants (N=54) with chronic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overground gait velocity, symmetry ratios for temporal and spatial step parameters, and motor impairment of the foot and leg. Spatiotemporal parameters were collected with a pressure-sensitive mat. Motor impairment was measured clinically with the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty (55.5%) participants showed statistically significant temporal asymmetry and 18 (33.3%) exhibited statistically significant spatial asymmetry. Preferred velocity was negatively associated with temporal asymmetry (r=-.583, df=52, P<.001) but not spatial asymmetry (r=-.146, df=52, P=.29). Temporal asymmetry was also associated with motor recovery of the leg (r=-.644, df=35, P<.001) and foot (r=-.628, df=35, P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study illustrate that temporal asymmetry can be found in many independently ambulating stroke patients. The work highlights the need for a standard assessment of poststroke gait symmetry in light of the complex relationship with motor impairment and velocity.
authors.affiliation: Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Kara K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parafianowicz
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Danells
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Closson
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verrier
authors.forename: W Richard
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: McIlroy
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation