Article

The Step Test (ST) is a measure of dynamic standing balance and
paretic-lower-extremity motor control in patients with stroke.
Little is known
about the extent to which impairments assessed by the ST relate to activity and
participation during stroke recovery.
The purpose of this study was to
determine relationships between ST scores and measures of activity and
participation during the first 6 months after stroke.
DESIGN : This was a
prospective cohort study. METHODS : Thirty-three individuals (18 men, 15 women)
with a diagnosis of a single, unilateral stroke participated in the study.
Participants were tested one time per month from 1 to 6 months poststroke. The ST
was considered an impairment-level measure. Self-selected gait speed and the
Medical OUTCOMES : Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) Physical
Function Index (PFI) were used to assess physical function. Three domains
(mobility, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, participation) of
the Stroke Impact Scale were used to assess self-reported disability. Regression
analyses were conducted to examine the bivariate associations between ST scores
and each physical function and disability measure at each time point (1-6
months). RESULTS: The ST scores were positively associated with both physical
function measures. The associations were stronger for self-selected gait speeds
(R(2)=.60-.79) than for the PFI scores (R(2)=.32-.60). During the first 6 months
after stroke, each additional step with the paretic lower extremity on the ST
corresponded to a 0.07-m/s to 0.09-m/s increase in gait speed, and each
additional step with the nonparetic lower extremity was associated with a 0.07-m/s to 0.08-m/s gait speed increase. The impairment-disability associations
were weaker than the impairment-physical function associations. LIMITATIONS : Limitations of the study include a relatively small sample size and lack of
examiner blinding with regard to participant characteristics. CONCLUSIONS : Impairments in balance and paretic-lower-extremity motor control, as measured by
the ST, relate to physical function and disability during the first 6 months following stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS