Abstract
Objective: This study was to examine whether lower limb loading forces in the sitting position can predict patients with acute stroke hemiplegia to gait independently or not at 2 weeks after onset of stroke.
Method: The participants were 63 patients [aged 75 (69-84) years] with acute stroke hemiplegia. Lower limb loading forces in the sitting position were assessed at the time of the initial intervention. Gait ability was determined by functional independence measure motor items (FIM-M) at 2 weeks after onset. Statistical analysis was performed by binomial logistic regression analysis with the availability of gait independence at 2 weeks after onset as the dependent variable. Furthermore, cut-off values for lower limb loading forces in the sitting position that predict whether or not gait independence is possible were calculated.
Results: Lower limb loading forces in the sitting position were found to influence the availability of gait independence [adjusted odds ratio: 0.89 (0.81-0.98), p = 0.014]. The cut-off value for lower limb load forces in the sitting position predicting whether gait independence was possible was 22.0 kg (area under the curve = 0.88, sensitivity = 0.97, specificity = 0.71).
Conclusion: We obtained a cutoff value of 22 kg that is useful as a predictor of independent walking ability at 2 weeks after onset in patients with acute stroke hemiplegia.
