The recovery of walking in stroke patients: a review.
We reviewed the literature on walking recovery of stroke patients as it relates to the following subjects:epidemiology of walking dysfunction, recovery course of walking, and recovery mechanism of walking (neural control of normal walking, the evaluation methods for leg motor function, and motor recovery mechanism of leg).The recovery of walking is one of the primary goals in stroke patients, along with the recovery of hand function and cognition. Walking function has greater potential for recovery than hand function because motor function of the leg is less dependent on the lateral corticospinal tract than that of hand function. This suggests that detailed knowledge of walking can be used to increase the likelihood that stroke patients recover their ability to walk. Therefore, we suggest that further research should focus on these topics, especially, on the neural control mechanism of walking and motor recovery mechanisms of the leg in stroke patients.
Jang
Sung Ho
SH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine,Yeungnam University, Republic of Korea. strokerehab@hanmail.net
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000294:innervation; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000503:physiopathology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology