The relationship between sitting balance and mobility outcome in stroke

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between static sitting balance in the acute post stroke patient and gait outcome; and to determine the relationship between initial and six-week post stroke mobility. Fifty-two patients with cerebral infarcts had sitting balance and gait assessed on hospital admission. Gait was reassessed six weeks later using the Functional Independence Measure-Locomotion (FIM Locomotion) score. Sitting balance was positively correlated with gait outcome. In particular, lack of static sitting balance initially is correlated with dependent gait at six weeks post stroke. Consideration of infarct location and side of hemiplegia may further enhance the strength of the correlation. The FIM Locomotion was a useful assessment tool with strong correlation between initial and final FIM Locomotion scores.