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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
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Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
Meaningful gait speed improvement during the first 60 days poststroke: minimal clinically important difference
Julie K Tilson1, Katherine J Sullivan, Steven Y Cen
1Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1540 E Alcazar St, CHP 155, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. tilson@usc.edu
Physical Therapy
|December 22, 2009
Summary
Researchers determined the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for comfortable gait speed (CGS) after stroke. An improvement of 0.16 m/s in CGS is linked to better function and reduced disability in stroke survivors.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Clinical Biomechanics
Background:
- Gait speed recovery post-stroke correlates with improved function and reduced disability.
- A defined minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for gait speed is needed to assess meaningful functional improvement in stroke survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the MCID for comfortable gait speed (CGS) associated with improved modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores in individuals 20 to 60 days post-stroke.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, longitudinal cohort study of 283 first-time stroke patients from the LEAPS trial.
- Gait speed and mRS scores were recorded at 20 and 60 days post-stroke.
- An mRS improvement of ≥1 point defined meaningful change in disability.
Main Results:
- Mean CGS increased from 0.18 m/s at 20 days to 0.39 m/s at 60 days.
- 47.3% of participants showed a ≥1 point improvement in mRS.
- The MCID for CGS was estimated at 0.16 m/s, anchored to the mRS.
Conclusions:
- An increase in CGS of 0.16 m/s suggests a meaningful improvement in disability for subacute stroke patients with severe gait impairments.
- The MCID for CGS demonstrated moderate sensitivity (73.9%) and specificity (57.0%) in detecting mRS score improvements.
- This 0.16 m/s benchmark can guide clinicians in setting goals and interpreting progress for stroke patients.
