Weight bearing asymmetry and functional ambulation performance in stroke survivors

This study evaluated asymmetry of weight bearing on the lower limbs and the association between percentage weight bearing asymmetry (PWBA) and functional ambulation performance in ambulant stroke survivors. Participants were 53 stroke survivors (male = 35, female = 18) aged 40-86 years (mean=58.87; SD=9.21years) with hemiparesis. Weight bearing through the lower limbs in standing was assessed by two juxtaposed bathroom weighing scales while functional ambulation performance was evaluated with the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (E-FAP). Data were summarized with mean and standard deviation and further analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation at 0.05 alpha level. Participants bore 60.3% (SD =7.1%) of their body weights on the unaffected legs and had a mean PWBA of 20.8 % (SD=14.7%). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.675, p < 0.0001) between PWBA and total E-FAP scores of participants. PWBA could hence be used to monitor functional ambulation recovery in stroke survivors.