Balance and lower limb strength correlate with gait speed in stroke patients: an observational study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gait and balance are often compromised after brain injuries such as stroke. OBJECTIVE: To correlate the lower limb muscle strength walking speed and balance in unipodal support on paretic limb with gait speed in stroke patients. METHODS: This study employed a correlational design. Individuals of both genders with a diagnosis of stroke seen at the Neurovascular Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, who were able to remain in orthostasis for two minutes without assistance and with walking at home with or without the aid of walking devices. The Sit-to-stand test during 30 seconds (STS 30s) was used to examine muscle strength of lower limbs; balance was measured using the Unipodal Support Test (UST) and walking speed with 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) and used an accelerometer around the waist of the subject. RESULTS: A total of 34 subjects were evaluated, 67.6% female and mean age 60.5 (± 13.6) years. The average comfortable walking speed was 1.01 ± 0.31 m/s, the average in the STS 30s was 9 ± 2.94 repetitions and the average support time on the affected lower limb was 4.11 ± 10.43 seconds. There was a correlation between the values in the 10MWT and the length of stay on the affected side (r=0.563 p<0.001)and with the number of repetitions in the STS 30s (r=0.667 p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The greater the muscle strength of the of lower limbs and the balance in unipodal support on the affected lower limb, the greater the gait speed in stroke patients.