Gait characteristics and functional ambulation profile in patients with chronic unilateral stroke

Recent technical progress in gait analysis has resulted in portable walkways with embedded pressure-sensitive sensors. Often claims are made in connection with new equipment of their straightforward clinical use. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the functional ambulation profile (FAP), calculated from walkway data, is a sensitive measure in the characterization of dissimilar patients with chronic hemiparesis due to stroke.

We investigated the relationships between FAP and the type of stroke, patients' functional disability, and spatial and temporal variables of gait obtained with the pressure sensor system walkway. Gait variables and FAP scores were compared in 25 patients with residual hemiparesis due to stroke and in 31 healthy subjects.

A prolonged swing phase in the affected side and a prolonged stance phase in the nonaffected side were found in patients. Footprint pressure data revealed reduced peak pressure of the affected-side metatarsal area in patients, probably reflecting foot paresis. Higher Barthel Index score and lower Rankin Scale score were reflected in FAP scores.

The FAP scores of patients reflected well their characteristic spatio-temporal gait variations; however, the FAP score seemed a reliable measure of gait normality/abnormality only in rather unhurried gait. Thus, it is useful when a single number is needed.