Weight Bearing of the Affected Leg in Early Recovery of Walking Ability after Acute Stroke

概要

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To find an indicator of early recovery of walking ability after disabling stroke, we evaluated the role of weight bearing of the affected leg at acute phase of stroke. Participants were 40 patients with a first-ever acute hemiplegic stroke. Using a stabilometer with two force footplates, we measured weight bearing rates between affected and unaffected legs at initial standing and over the next 3 weeks. According to walking ability at 1 month after stroke, participants were divided into 2 groups ; (1) independent gait group (n=20) with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score of 6 and 7, and (2) dependent gait group (n=20) with FIM of 1 to 5. Weight bearing rates of the affected leg at initial standing were significantly higher in the independent gait group than in the dependent gait group (average 41% and 27% ; p<0.001), and they remained significantly higher in the independent gait group over the next 3 weeks (p<0.001). Although time from stroke onset to initial standing was not different between the 2 groups (average 10 and 13 days ; p=0.065), time to initial walking exercise was shorter in the independent gait group (average 12 and 16 days ; p=0.047). The weight bearing rates of the affected leg were well correlated with clinical parameters including the Brunnstrom's motor recovery stage and Barthel Index. Weight bearing measurement may be a good objective indicator of early gait independency after acute stroke.
神戸大学の論文