Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare turning capacity in ambulatory individuals poststroke with
controls and to determine the relationship between turning capacity, functional
ambulation, motor recovery, and gait asymmetry.
DESIGN: This was a
cross-sectional experimental study using community-dwelling, ambulatory chronic
stroke survivors (n = 13) and age-matched able-bodied controls (n = 10). Neural
impairment resulting from stroke was assessed by the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke
Assessment for the leg and foot. Turning capacity was measured by the number of
steps and time required to complete 45-, 90-, and 180-degree turns. Functional
ambulation and balance were assessed by the 10-m walk test, Timed Up and Go test,
Emory Functional Ambulation Profile, and the Berg Balance Scale. Gait asymmetry
was measured by single-support gait asymmetry.
RESULTS: Participants with stroke
required a significantly greater number of steps and longer time to complete the
45-, 90-, and 180-degree turns compared with controls. The average number of
steps or time required to turn 45, 90, or 180 degrees was not different whether
the turns were made to the paretic side or to the nonparetic side in the
participants with stroke or whether turns were made toward the dominant or
nondominant side in the controls. In the participants with stroke, turning
capacity for 180-degree turns to both the paretic and nonparetic side was
significantly correlated to the 10-m walk test, Timed Up and Go test, Emory
Functional Ambulation Profile, and Berg Balance Scale. Single-support gait
asymmetry was also significantly correlated to 180-degree turning capacity.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that turning capacity
poststroke is compromised, as exemplified by the greater number of steps and time
required to complete turns at each angle tested. Turning capacity was related to
the degree of gait asymmetry and the level of functional ambulation. Further work
is needed to elucidate the contribution of biomechanical and neurologic
parameters of hemiplegic gait impairments to turning capacity.

Langue : ANGLAIS