TY - JOUR
T1 - The strength of the ankle dorsiflexors has a significant contribution to walking speed in people who can walk independently after stroke
T2 - An observational study
AU - Dorsch, Simone
AU - Ada, Louise
AU - Canning, Colleen G.
AU - Al-Zharani, Matar
AU - Dean, Catherine
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - Objective: To investigate the relationship between the strength of muscles of the affected lower limb and walking speed after stroke. Design: A cross-sectional observational study. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: Stroke survivors (N=60; mean age ± SD, 69±11y) 1 to 6 years poststroke, able to walk 10m independently without aids. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Maximum isometric strength of 12 muscle groups (hip flexors/extensors, adductors/abductors, internal/external rotators, knee flexors/extensors, ankle dorsiflexors/plantarflexors, invertors/evertors) of the affected lower limb was measured using hand-held dynamometry. Comfortable walking speed was measured using the ten-meter walk test. Results: Univariate analysis revealed that strength of the hip flexors (r=.35, P=.01), hip extensors (r=.29, P=.03), hip internal rotators (r=.30, P=.02), hip adductors (r=.29, P=.03), knee extensors (r=.27, P=.03), knee flexors (r=.30, P=.02), ankle dorsiflexors (r=.50, P=.00), ankle plantarflexors (r=.29, P=.03), and ankle evertors (r=.33, P=.01) were all positively associated with walking speed. Multivariate analysis (n=58) revealed that the combined strength of the ankle dorsiflexors and the hip flexors accounted for 34% of the variance in walking speed (P<.001). The ankle dorsiflexors accounted for 31% of the variance (P<.001). Conclusions: The strength of muscle groups other than the lower limb extensors, particularly the ankle dorsiflexors, has an important role in determining walking speed after stroke.
AB - Objective: To investigate the relationship between the strength of muscles of the affected lower limb and walking speed after stroke. Design: A cross-sectional observational study. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: Stroke survivors (N=60; mean age ± SD, 69±11y) 1 to 6 years poststroke, able to walk 10m independently without aids. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Maximum isometric strength of 12 muscle groups (hip flexors/extensors, adductors/abductors, internal/external rotators, knee flexors/extensors, ankle dorsiflexors/plantarflexors, invertors/evertors) of the affected lower limb was measured using hand-held dynamometry. Comfortable walking speed was measured using the ten-meter walk test. Results: Univariate analysis revealed that strength of the hip flexors (r=.35, P=.01), hip extensors (r=.29, P=.03), hip internal rotators (r=.30, P=.02), hip adductors (r=.29, P=.03), knee extensors (r=.27, P=.03), knee flexors (r=.30, P=.02), ankle dorsiflexors (r=.50, P=.00), ankle plantarflexors (r=.29, P=.03), and ankle evertors (r=.33, P=.01) were all positively associated with walking speed. Multivariate analysis (n=58) revealed that the combined strength of the ankle dorsiflexors and the hip flexors accounted for 34% of the variance in walking speed (P<.001). The ankle dorsiflexors accounted for 31% of the variance (P<.001). Conclusions: The strength of muscle groups other than the lower limb extensors, particularly the ankle dorsiflexors, has an important role in determining walking speed after stroke.
KW - Gait
KW - Muscle strength
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - Stroke
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861577682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.01.005
DO - 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.01.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 22464738
AN - SCOPUS:84861577682
SN - 0003-9993
VL - 93
SP - 1072
EP - 1076
JO - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
IS - 6
ER -