P-3-09-06
GAIT ANALYSIS AND ITS CLINICAL CORRELATION OF STROKE PATIENTS
Ta-Shen Kuan (National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan)
Fong-Chin Su, Chang-Zern Hong
Purpose: This study is designed to assess the gait patterns of normal elderly subjects and stroke patients, and to evaluate the correlation between these gait variables and clinical status in stroke patients.
Method: Twenty-three ambulatory stroke patients with mean age of 55 years were analyzed for temporal-spatial and kinematic variables by Motion Analysis System. Nine healthy elderly subjects were recruited as control group.
Result: Compared to the normal young adult population, normal elderly subjects had slower walking speed (93.8 cm/sec) and their gait patterns were mild deficient in hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion. Stroke patients had even slower walking speed (41.9 cm/sec), with increased stance period and decreased swing period in unaffected limb. The temporal-spatial variables could not be discriminated between motor recovery stage 3 and stage 4, or between stage 5 and stage 6. However, these variables could be clearly discriminated among three groups of walking velocity (slow, medium and fast speed group). Differences in range of motion (ROM) of joints of lower extremity were significantly correlated with differences in groups of walking velocities rather than stages of motor recovery.
Conclusion: Our data suggested that temporal-spatial and kinematic variables of gait in stroke patients were better characterized by gait speed rather than, by motor recovery stage.
P-3-09-07
GAIT ANALYSIS OF STROKE PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT WALKING AIDS
Ta-Shen Kuan (National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan),
Jui-Yi Tsou, Fong-Chin Su, Chang-Zern Hong
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of walking aids on hemiplegic gait pattern.
Method: Twelve ambulatory stroke patients with mean age of 54.8 years were studied. The mean time since stroke onset was 8 months. Quadricane was used by 7 stroke patients and standard cane by 5 patients. Their gait patterns, with and without walking aid, were analyzed for temporal-spatial and kinematic variables by Motion Analysis System. The control group included 9 healthy elderly subjects.
Result: Compared to hemiplegic gait patterns without walking aids, stroke patients ambulated with walking aids had comparable walking velocity, decreased cadence, increased step length and stride length, increased stance phase over affected side and decreased stance phase over sound side. However, the differences of these variables between 2 groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). As for kinematic variables of hemiplegic gait, the range of motion (ROM) of pelvis, hip, knee and ankle joints in frontal, saggital and transverse plane were not significantly different between two groups.
Conclusion: It appears that the exact effect of walking aids on hemiplegic gait is not obvious and requires further delicate study.
