title: Relationship between muscle strength and functional walking capacity among people with stroke.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to estimate, using the Position-Specific Global Index (PSGI) of Lower-Limb Muscle Strength, the extent to which muscle strength is independently associated with functional walking capacity. We performed an observational, cross-sectional study with 63 patients poststroke (onset between 3 and 12 months) at a major teaching hospital in an urban Canadian city. We assessed functional walking capacity with the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and muscle strength with handheld dynamometry. We established the relationship between the lower-limb muscles and functional walking capacity with the PSGI. The PSGI explained 70% (p < 0.001) of the variability in the 6MWT, whereas the index of alternate against-gravity muscle strength explained 39% and the hip flexors in a supine position explained 51%.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada. carolina.moriello@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moriello
authors.forename: Lois
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mayo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*