Association of performance of standing turns with physical impairments and walking ability in patients with hemiparetic stroke

Abstract

[Purpose] The effect of turn direction and relation between turn performance and walking ability in patients with hemiparetic stroke is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of turn direction on the performance of standing turns and to examine the relations between turn performance and walking ability in patients with hemiparetic stroke. [Subject and Methods] The participants were 38 outpatients with chronic hemiparesis due to stroke. Turn performance was evaluated using the time and number of steps required to complete a 360° standing turn, and was evaluated for turns toward the paretic side and the non-paretic side. Walking ability was assessed using gait speed in the 10-m walk test, the Timed Up and Go test, and the Functional Ambulation Category. [Results] Thirty-six participants were analyzed, and the time needed for turns and number of steps were similar for turns to the paretic and non-paretic sides. The time needed for turns was correlated walking ability. A turn time of 10.0 s distinguished FAC 5 (independent ambulation in the community) from FAC ≤4 with a sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.85. [Conclusion] The performance of standing turns was not affected by the turning direction and was closely correlated with walking ability.