title: Association of activity limitations and lower-limb explosive extensor power in ambulatory people with stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the explosive lower-limb extensor power of the affected and unaffected sides, and any asymmetry, are associated with activity limitations after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements made in a hospital clinical research facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling (N=66) subjects with stroke who were independently ambulatory. Subjects' mean age was 72+/-10 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lower-limb extensor power of each lower limb (in W/kg), performance of specific functional activities (comfortable walking velocity, Functional Reach Test, chair-rise time, Timed Up & Go test), and global indices of activity limitation (FIM instrument, Rivermead Mobility Index, Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low lower-limb extensor power in either lower limb was the principal factor from among the confounders we recorded that significantly (R(2) range, .21-.46) predicted the limitation of specific functional activities, and low lower-limb extensor power in either lower limb was the principal predictive factor for global indices of activity limitation (R(2) range, .13-.38). The degree of asymmetry of lower-limb extensor power between legs was low and had little or no predictive value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In ambulatory persons with stroke, activity limitations are associated with deficits in lower-limb extensor power of both lower limbs, and not the severity of any residual asymmetry. These findings suggest that interventions to increase lower-limb extensor power in both lower limbs might reduce activity limitations after stroke.
authors: Department of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. Dave.Saunders@ed.ac.uk
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Saunders
authors: Carolyn A
authors: CA
authors: Greig
authors: Archie
authors: A
authors: Young
authors: Gillian E
authors: GE
authors: Mead
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*