Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cut-off values for knee extensor strength on the
paretic and non-paretic sides and both sides combined for identifying
independence in gait in chronic stroke survivors.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
PATIENTS: Sixty chronic stroke survivors. METHODS: Functional Independence
Measure (FIM) gait scores were measured, and the participants were allocated to
the independent group (FIM gait score 6 or 7) or the dependent group (FIM gait
score 1-5). Knee extensor strength on the paretic and non-paretic sides was
measured using a handheld dynamometer. RESULTS: Eighteen stroke survivors were
allocated to the independent group and 42 to the dependent group. The receiver
operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that the cut-off values for knee
extensor strength were 0.46 Nm/kg (sensitivity 83% and specificity 67%; area
under the curve (AUC) 0.816) on the paretic side, 0.65 Nm/kg (sensitivity 89% and
specificity 55%; AUC 0.738) on the non-paretic side and 1.31 Nm/kg (sensitivity
83% and specificity 74%; AUC 0.811) for both sides combined. CONCLUSION: These
cut-off values could help to identify stroke survivors who are no longer
independent in gait because of decreasing knee extensor strength on the paretic
and non-paretic sides.

Langue : ANGLAIS