title: Factors Related to Gait Function in Post-stroke Patients.
abstract: [Purpose] Gait function after a stroke is an important factor for determining a patient's ability to independently perform activities of daily living (ADL). The objective of this study was to elucidate the factors associated with gait function in post-stroke patients. [Subjects] Thirty-nine stroke patients (16 females and 23 males; average age 67.82 ± 10.96 years; post-onset duration: 200.18 ± 27.14 days) participated in this study. [Methods] Their gait function, motor function (Manual Muscle Test [MMT] and Brünnstrom stage), level of cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination score [MMSE], and the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for the Geriatric Population [LOTCA-G]), and ADL (Korean modified Barthel index [K-MBI]) were assessed. [Results] The degree of gait function showed significant positive correlations with the following variables: MMT of the elbow, knee, ankle and wrist; Brünnstrom stage; MMSE; LOTCA-G subscores except motor praxis; K-MBI. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed the Brünnstrom stage was the only explanatory variable closely associated with gait level. [Conclusion] Gait function of post-stroke patients was related to motor function, cognition, and ADL. In particular, there is a significant association between gait level and the Brünnstrom stages, reflecting the importance of monitoring the motor recovery of gait function in post-stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology, Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul Bukbu Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kun Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Brünnstrom stage; Gait; Stroke