Article ID: 12232
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between knee extensor strength and walking independence and determine the cutoff knee extensor strength for walking independence in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included stroke patients consecutively admitted to convalescent rehabilitation wards. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether knee extensor strength on the paralyzed, nonparalyzed, and bilateral sides was associated with walking independence. Further, the receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index were used to calculate the cutoff knee extensor strength for walking independence.
Results: We included 658 patients (median age: 74 years, 45% female) in this study, of which 393 (60%) were able to walk independently. Each knee extensor strength variable was independently correlated with walking independence (all, P<0.001). The cutoff values of knee extensor strength for walking independence were 0.631 Nm/kg, 1.010 Nm/kg, and 1.621 Nm/kg for the paralyzed, nonparalyzed, and bilateral sides, respectively.
Conclusion: Knee extensor strength can be a criterion to decide for independence in walking in post-stroke hemiplegic patients in convalescent rehabilitation wards.
