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Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
Canes may not improve spatiotemporal parameters of walking after stroke: a systematic review of cross-sectional
Patrick R Avelino1, Lucas R Nascimento1,2, Kênia K P Menezes1
1NeuroGroup, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Purpose:
To examine whether using a cane would improve spatiotemporal parameters of walking, i.e., speed, stride length, cadence, and symmetry after stroke.
Material And Methods:
Searches were conducted in eight databases. The experimental condition was walking with a cane. Four outcomes were of interest: walking speed, stride length, cadence, and symmetry.
Results:
Twelve studies were included. Results from nine studies suggested that individuals with stroke walked 0.01 m/s (SD 0.06) slower with a single-point cane, compared with no cane. Two studies suggested a reduction in cadence (MD-5 steps/min, SD2) and an increase in stride length (MD 0.08 m, SD 0.01). Three studies suggested that individuals walked 0.06 m/s (SD 0.07) slower with a four-point cane, compared with no cane. Four studies suggested that individuals walked 0.06 m/s (SD 0.04) faster with a single- point cane compared with a four-point cane. Results regarding other outcomes were inconclusive.
Conclusions:
Results showed no worthwhile improvements in spatiotemporal parameters of walking with a single-point cane and a slight reduction with a four-point cane, compared with no cane. Individuals walked slightly faster with a single-point cane compared with a four-point cane, but the evidence is insufficient to support this superiority.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONA single-point cane may not improve spatiotemporal parameters of walking after stroke.Walking with a four-point cane may slightly decrease spatiotemporal parameters of walking.Canes may be prescribed without the fear of negatively impairing walking kinematics.
