Article

Objective: To gain insight into the relation between changes
in gait patterns over time and functional recovery of walking
ability in stroke patients.
Design: Cohort study.
Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation center of a university hospital
in the Netherlands.
Participants: Thirteen stroke patients admitted, or awaiting
admission, for inpatient rehabilitation 3 weeks poststroke, and
16 healthy control subjects.
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures: At 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 weeks
poststroke, functional recovery of walking ability was assessed
with the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and the Functional
Ambulation Categories (FAC). When possible, kinematics of
the knee, hip, and pelvis were assessed through gait analysis in
an 8
4m gait laboratory. Minimal scores of 8 on the RMI and
4 on the FAC were necessary before patients were classified as
functionally recovered.
Results: Patients whose joint kinematics during ambulation
had recovered to within the range of the control group showed
functional recovery of walking ability. However, some patients
whose kinematics had developed toward an abnormal pattern
also showed functional recovery.
Conclusions: Recovery of joint kinematics toward a normal
pattern is not required for functional recovery of walking
ability. Early recognition of compensatory walking patterns
that facilitate functional recovery may have implications for
rehabilitation programs

Langue : ANGLAIS