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Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
Increased stride time variability is associated with a higher risk of falls in patients with ataxia after stroke
Yuichiro Yamasaki1, Tomoyuki Arai2, Shinjiro Takaishi1
1Maruki Memorial Medical and Social Welfare Center Rehabilitation Department, Moroyama-Machi, Saitama, Japan.
Introduction:
Patients presenting with ataxia are at high risk of falling, however, there are limited studies evaluating fall factors restricted to patients presenting with ataxia due to stroke.
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine the characteristics of patients with ataxia after stroke based on their motor function to identify variables associated with fall occurrence.
Methods:
We divided 33 participants who presented with ataxia after stroke into fall and non-fall groups. Data on motor function, cognitive function, and daily functionality were extracted from their admission records. Walking ability was measured as comfortable walking speed and Stride Time Variability (STV). Independent sample t-tests, Mann - Whitney U tests, and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed.
Results:
There were significant differences between fallers and non-fallers in the STV (p < .001), Mini-Balance Evaluations Systems Test score (p < .014) and Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score assessment (p < .028). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, only STV was associated with an increased risk of falls (p < .02). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.839; the cutoff value of gait cycle variability for falls was 6.345% (sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 74.0%).
Conclusion:
Increased stride time variability is a useful indicator that sensitively captures fall risk in patients with ataxia after stroke.
