Toe Grip Strength Is Associated with Improving Gait Function in Patients with Subacute Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Toe grip strength is increasingly recognized for its role in balance and mobility, particularly in older adults.
• Its specific impact on gait recovery in subacute stroke patients remains an area for further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between toe grip strength and gait function improvement in patients with subacute stroke.
• To determine if toe grip strength predicts improvements in ambulatory function three months post-stroke onset.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal cohort study involving 98 first-ever stroke patients with impaired independent ambulation.
• Assessment of toe grip strength, hand grip strength, knee extensor strength, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (FMA_LE), and Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) at baseline and three months.
• Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between toe grip strength and gait function (10-meter walk test time).

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was found between the 10-meter walk test time and the toe grip strength ratio (affected/unaffected side) (r = -0.61, p < 0.001).
• Multiple regression analysis indicated that toe grip strength ratio, FMA_LE, PASS, and age were significant predictors of 10-meter walk test time improvement.
• Toe grip strength ratio showed a significant relationship with gait function improvement (β = -0.113, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Toe grip strength is a significant factor associated with improved ambulatory function in subacute stroke patients.
• Targeted rehabilitation programs incorporating toe grip muscle strengthening may enhance gait recovery in this population.