The Weak Relationship Between Ankle Proprioception and Gait Speed After Stroke: A Robotic Assessment Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Ankle proprioceptive deficits are common post-stroke and may impact gait.
• Previous research on the link between proprioception and gait has yielded mixed results, potentially due to measurement methods.
• Robotic assessments offer sensitive and reliable measures of proprioception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between ankle proprioception and gait function in stroke survivors.
• To explore correlations between ankle proprioception, gait speed, gait endurance, and lower extremity motor function.

Main Methods:

• 39 chronic stroke survivors underwent robotic assessments for ankle proprioception (Crisscross, Joint Position Reproduction).
• Gait speed (10-meter walk test) and endurance (6-minute walk test) were evaluated.
• Lower extremity motor function was assessed using robotic measures (MVC, AROM) and the Fugl-Meyer exam (LEFM).

Main Results:

• 87% of participants exhibited impaired ankle proprioception.
• Ankle proprioceptive error showed weak correlations with gait speed and moderate correlations with gait endurance.
• No significant correlations were found between proprioceptive deficits and measures of ankle strength, range of motion, or overall motor impairment.

Conclusions:

• A weak but significant relationship exists between ankle proprioception and gait function in stroke survivors.
• This association is independent of common measures of lower extremity motor impairment.
• Findings highlight the importance of somatosensory feedback for gait control post-stroke.