title: The effects of walking sticks on gait kinematics and kinetics with chronic stroke survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are robust clinical paradigms against the prescription of walking sticks for people with stroke. However, there is little information on the biomechanics of gait with and without these devices to guide clinical practice. Therefore, this study investigated how the use of walking sticks (canes or crutches) affected both the kinematics and kinetics of gait in people with chronic stroke after their walking had stabilized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen people with chronic stroke walked at both comfortable and fast speeds. A 3-D motion analysis system and one force platform were used to obtain kinematic and kinetic data of the paretic lower limb during four conditions: With and without walking sticks, and at comfortable and fast speeds. Outcomes included linear kinematics (walking speeds) and angular kinematics (maximum joint angles), power, and work of the paretic hip, knee and ankle joints in the saggital plane.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of walking sticks resulted in increases in speed during both fast (P<0.001) and comfortable (P=0.001) walking, but did not result in changes in maximum joint angles. This also led to increases in ankle plantar flexion (P<0.01), knee extension (P<0.01), and hip flexion (P<0.001) power generation, but did not result in changes in work. There were no greater changes as a result of using walking sticks during fast versus comfortable walking for any outcome. INTERPRETATIN: The outcomes with the use of walking sticks were beneficial, which suggests that the prescription of these devices is not detrimental to walking that was stabilized in people with stroke.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: Janaine Cunha
authors: JC
authors: Polese
authors: Luci Fuscaldi
authors: LF
authors: Teixeira-Salmela
authors: Lucas Rodrigues
authors: LR
authors: Nascimento
authors: Christina Danielli Morais
authors: CD
authors: Faria
authors: Renata Noce
authors: RN
authors: Kirkwood
authors: Glória Carneiro
authors: GC
authors: Laurentino
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Ada
mesh_terms: D002183:Canes; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking