Abstract
[Purpose] To clarify the relationships among the direction of rotation, severity of paralysis, and gait stability when turning in hemiplegic patients, using a 3-axis accelerometer. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 19 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, who were able to walk under observation or independently. With a 3-axis accelerometer attached, the patients walked along a 5-m straight course, and turned (on the paretic and non-paretic legs as axes) to compare gait regularity during normal gait and at immediately before and the beginning of turning based on the severity of paralysis using the BRS. [Results] The decrease in gait regularity when turning was more marked among patients with milder paralysis. [Conclusion] Patients with milder paralysis were able to turn, even with decreased gait regularity, while those with severer paralysis needed to maintain such regularity when turning.
