Improvement in Gait Variability over 24 Months in an Individual with Hemiparesis following Stroke: A Case Report

Gait variability, related to gait stability, is crucial because it is associated with the risk of falls in patients with hemiparesis following stroke. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding changes in gait variability over time in patients with stroke. This case report aimed to describe the improvement in gait variability over 24 months in an individual with hemiparesis following stroke.

A 34-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction due to atherosclerosis. The patient presented with severe motor paralysis of the right extremities, scoring 6 and 13 on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the upper and lower extremities, respectively. Data collection for patient examination started at 1 month post-stroke. Two measures were employed for quantifying gait variability: the Gait Variability Index (GVI) and the coefficient of variation (CV). Nine spatiotemporal parameters were collected for calculating the GVI and CV.

The patient was discharged after 5 months post-stroke. At 24 months, he was able to walk independently outdoors without using a cane or an ankle-foot orthosis. Improvements in the GVI and CV were observed during the first 4 months following stroke; however, no marked changes were noted thereafter. At 24 months, the CV for step length, single support time, and swing time demonstrated the most marked improvements.

Gait variability in this patient showed the most improvement during the subacute phase. Additionally, improvement in gait variability may be the basis for achieving independent walking, and future research is warranted.