2011 Volume 38 Issue 7 Pages 481-488
Purpose: Ambulation is the most common mean of migration and there is a relation between ambulatory ability and space of daily life for aged people. It is required to determine any ambulatory independence based on the evidence since there are various advantages of independent ambulation. The purpose of this study is to obtain a certain cutoff value to determine ambulatory independence for patients of hemiplegia after incipient cerebral arterial disease. Methods: For the patients of hemiplegia after incipient cerebral arterial disease who stayed at our convalescent ward, the Timed Up and Go (TUG), the rate of loading on paralyzed lower extremity (Rate of Loading) and the Functional Balance Scale (FBS) were tested. Then, we examined the cutoff value at these evaluation indicators to determine any ambulatory independence. Results: The cutoff values for ambulatory independence of TUG comfortable speed condition, TUG maximum speed condition, Rate of Loading and FBS were 21.6 seconds, 15.6 seconds, 0.70, and 45.5 points respectively. Conclusion: The cutoff values in this study will provide a better judgment when determining ambulatory independence for patients of hemiplegia after incipient cerebral arterial disease.
