Predicting those who will walk after rehabilitation in a specialist stroke unit

To establish whether the ability to use a wheelchair shortly after a stroke or continence are related to the likelihood of walking by time of discharge.

An observational study in patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit for under-65s over a three-year period.

Functional Independence Measure (FIM) subscores for walking were examined on all patients at time of admission and discharge. Walking was defined by an FIM > or = 5 in that section. Comparisons were then made between those who could self-propel a wheelchair within a week of admission with those who could not. Continence (defined by an FIM subscore of > or = 6 in that category) was also correlated to walking at discharge.

Walking at time of discharge defined by an FIM > or = 5 in that section.

From 393 admissions, 135 were excluded because they could already walk (FIM subscore > or = 5 in that particular section) and three died during their admission. Out of the remaining 255 patients, 108 could self-propel on admission and 147 could not. While 105 (97%) of the self-propellors could walk by time of discharge, only 91 (62%) of the non-propellors could do so (chi2 = 42.237, df = 1, P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) 21.54 (6.52-71.51)). Although continence also predicted improved likelihood of walking, this was at a lower level of significance and correspondingly lower odds ratio (chi2=5.894, df = 1, P= 0.015, OR 1.94 (1.13-3.32)).

The ability to self-propel a wheelchair shortly after a stroke is a significant predictor of eventually being able to walk. Our data suggest that it is even more significant than continence, which is the most consistent predictor previously found.