Accelerometric assessment of different dimensions of natural walking during the first year after stroke: recovery of amount, distribution, quality and speed of walking

MC Sanchez, J Bussmann, W Janssen, H Horemans, Sebastien Chastin, M Heijenbrok, H Stam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the course of walking behaviour over a period of 1 year after stroke, using accelerometry, and to compare 1-year data with those from a healthy group. Design: One-year follow-up cohort study. Subjects: Twenty-three stroke patients and 20 age-matched healthy subjects. Methods: Accelerometer assessments were made in the participants' daily environment for 8 h/day during the 1 st (T1), 12 th (T2) and 48 th (T3) weeks after stroke, and at one timepoint in healthy subjects. Primary outcomes were: percentage of time walking and upright (amount); mean duration and number of walking periods (distribution); step regularity and gait symmetry (quality); and walking speed. Results: Time walking, time upright, and number of walking bouts increased during T1 and T2 (p < 0.01) and then levelled off (p > 0.30). Mean duration of walking periods showed no significant improvements (p > 0.30) during all phases. Step regularity, gait symmetry and gait speed showed a tendency to increase consistently from T1 to T3. At T3, amount and distribution variables reached the level of the healthy group, but significant differences remained (p < 0.02) in step regularity and gait speed. Conclusion: In this cohort, different outcomes of walking behaviour showed different patterns and levels of recovery, which supports the multi-dimensional character of gait.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)714-721
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume47
Issue number8
Early online date1 Jul 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Accelerometry
  • Activities of daily living
  • Gait
  • Stroke

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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