Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
08:19
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
Measurement of community ambulation after stroke: current status and future developments
1Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington South, New Zealand. sue.lord@ts.co.nz
Stroke
|June 11, 2005
Summary
Current measures for community ambulation in stroke survivors are inadequate. Gait speed is an unreliable proxy, and self-report is recommended for clinical use while research develops better tools.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Science
- Clinical Measurement
- Neurology
Background:
- Community ambulation is crucial for stroke survivors' quality of life.
- Measuring community ambulation presents significant conceptual challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review conceptual issues in measuring community ambulation post-stroke.
- To identify and discuss existing tests for community ambulation or its components.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of conceptual frameworks and measurement tools.
- Analysis of tests assessing community ambulation and its related tasks.
Main Results:
- Progress in defining community ambulation is noted, but reliable and valid measures are lacking.
- Gait speed, often used as a proxy, does not accurately reflect community ambulation levels.
- Existing measures have limitations, suggesting self-report as the most practical current option.
Conclusions:
- Reliable and valid measurement of community ambulation post-stroke remains an unmet need.
- Reliance on gait speed, especially the 10-m walk, is inappropriate.
- Further research is required to develop a theoretical framework and validated measurement tools for community ambulation.
