TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of gait velocity among community-dwelling stroke survivors
AU - Taylor-Piliae, Ruth E.
AU - Latt, L. Daniel
AU - Hepworth, Joseph T.
AU - Coull, Bruce M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by an American Heart Association National Scientist Development Grant # 0930324N (Taylor-Piliae, PI) and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars Grant # 66527 (Taylor-Piliae, PI). The authors are solely responsible for the design and conduct of this study, all study analyses, the drafting and editing of the paper and its final contents.
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - Introduction: Gait velocity is an objective, fundamental indicator of post-stroke walking ability. Most stroke survivors have diminished aerobic endurance or paretic leg strength affecting their walking ability. Other reported underlying factors affecting gait velocity include functional disability, balance, cognitive impairment, or the distance they are required to walk. Objective: To examine the relationship between gait velocity and measures of physical and cognitive functioning in chronic stroke. Methods: Cross-sectional design using baseline data from community-dwelling stroke survivors enrolled in an exercise intervention study. Functional disability (modified Rankin Scale), aerobic endurance (2-min step-test), leg strength (timed 5-chair stand test), balance (single-leg stance) and cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental Status Exam) were assessed. Gait velocity was assessed using a timed 4-m walk test. Multiple linear regression was used to explore potential independent predictors of gait velocity. Results: Subjects had an average gait velocity of 0.75±0.23m/s, categorized as limited community walkers. Approximately 37% of the variance in gait velocity, could be explained by the 5 independent variables, functional disability, aerobic endurance, leg strength, balance, and cognitive impairment (R 2=0.37, F 5,74=8.64, p<0.01). Aerobic endurance (t 1,74=3.41, p<0.01) and leg strength (t 1,74=-2.23, p=0.03) contributed significantly to gait velocity. Conclusion: Diminished aerobic endurance and leg strength are major contributors to slow gait velocity in chronic stroke. Long term rehabilitation efforts are needed to improve gait velocity in chronic stroke, and may need to incorporate multifaceted strategies concurrently, focusing on aerobic endurance and leg strength, to maximize community ambulation and reintegration.
AB - Introduction: Gait velocity is an objective, fundamental indicator of post-stroke walking ability. Most stroke survivors have diminished aerobic endurance or paretic leg strength affecting their walking ability. Other reported underlying factors affecting gait velocity include functional disability, balance, cognitive impairment, or the distance they are required to walk. Objective: To examine the relationship between gait velocity and measures of physical and cognitive functioning in chronic stroke. Methods: Cross-sectional design using baseline data from community-dwelling stroke survivors enrolled in an exercise intervention study. Functional disability (modified Rankin Scale), aerobic endurance (2-min step-test), leg strength (timed 5-chair stand test), balance (single-leg stance) and cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental Status Exam) were assessed. Gait velocity was assessed using a timed 4-m walk test. Multiple linear regression was used to explore potential independent predictors of gait velocity. Results: Subjects had an average gait velocity of 0.75±0.23m/s, categorized as limited community walkers. Approximately 37% of the variance in gait velocity, could be explained by the 5 independent variables, functional disability, aerobic endurance, leg strength, balance, and cognitive impairment (R 2=0.37, F 5,74=8.64, p<0.01). Aerobic endurance (t 1,74=3.41, p<0.01) and leg strength (t 1,74=-2.23, p=0.03) contributed significantly to gait velocity. Conclusion: Diminished aerobic endurance and leg strength are major contributors to slow gait velocity in chronic stroke. Long term rehabilitation efforts are needed to improve gait velocity in chronic stroke, and may need to incorporate multifaceted strategies concurrently, focusing on aerobic endurance and leg strength, to maximize community ambulation and reintegration.
KW - Aerobic endurance
KW - Chronic stroke
KW - Gait velocity
KW - Leg strength
KW - Predictors
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U2 - 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.10.358
DO - 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.10.358
M3 - Article
C2 - 22119886
AN - SCOPUS:84857998527
SN - 0966-6362
VL - 35
SP - 395
EP - 399
JO - Gait and Posture
JF - Gait and Posture
IS - 3
ER -