Article

PURPOSE: To compare stroke subjects with different levels of functional mobility,
as determined by the Timed
"Up and Go" (TUG) test, with controls and outline
which clinical functional measures could be combined to predict functional
mobility. METHOD: Twenty-two chronic stroke (54.7 +/- 15.4 years) and 22 healthy
subjects (54.7 +/- 15.4 years) performed the TUG and were assessed regarding the
paretic or non-dominant quadriceps strength, maximal gait speed, and quality of
life (QL). Each group was divided into fast, intermediate, and slow sub-groups
regarding their TUG performances. ANOVAs were employed to investigate the main
and interaction effects between the groups and sub-groups and discriminant
analyses to predict group membership. RESULTS: For both groups, the three
sub-groups were significantly different regarding their TUG scores (26.21 < F <
32.73; p < 0.006). The significant interactions indicated that faster stroke
subjects demonstrated similar TUG scores, compared to those of all the healthy
sub-groups. Maximal gait speed and QL showed significant discriminant functions
and correctly classified 86.4%
of the original grouped cases. CONCLUSIONS: Fast
stroke subjects demonstrated similar TUG performances compared to those of
healthy subjects. Group membership was correctly classified for the majority of
subjects, except for the fast stroke sub-group, but only for the variables
related to gait speed and QL.

Langue : ANGLAIS