Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025
07:44
Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis
Published on: March 23, 2019
18.4K
Longitudinal Changes in Temporospatial Gait Characteristics during the First Year Post-Stroke
John W Chow1, Dobrivoje S Stokic1
1Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Brain Sciences
|December 24, 2021
Summary
Gait recovery after stroke shows significant improvement in temporospatial parameters and symmetry within six months. Early gait speed increases are linked to initial slower walking and asymmetry, with a plateau observed thereafter.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Longitudinal data on gait recovery post-stroke is limited.
- Understanding gait changes is crucial for effective rehabilitation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare temporospatial gait characteristics in stroke patients longitudinally.
- To explore the relationship between initial gait characteristics and subsequent gait speed changes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking 46 stroke patients at <2 months (T0), ~6 months (T1), and ~12 months (T2) post-onset.
- Assessed 14 temporospatial gait parameters and 5 symmetry indices.
- Correlated initial gait parameters (T0) with gait speed changes from T0 to T1.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in most temporospatial gait parameters and symmetry were observed from T0 to T1 (p ≤ 0.0001).
- No significant group differences in gait parameters were found between T1 and T2.
- Increased gait speed from T0 to T1 correlated with slower initial gait speed, shorter stride length, and greater asymmetry at T0.
Conclusions:
- Gait parameters and stance time symmetry improve significantly within the first six months post-stroke, with a plateau thereafter.
- Early gait recovery involves neurological recovery, compensatory strategies, and physical therapy.
- Initial gait characteristics predict the magnitude of gait speed improvement in the subacute phase.
