Achievement of simple mobility milestones after stroke.

Abstract

To observe the mobility outcomes of an inpatient population of stroke patients grouped according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification. "Mobility milestones," standardized measures of functional movement, were used to examine mobility recovery. Two hundred thirty-eight stroke patients admitted to the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Times taken to achieve four mobility milestones: 1-minute sitting balance, 10-second standing balance, a 10-step walk, and a 10-meter walk. For all subjects the median times to achieve the milestones were as follows: 1-minute sitting balance, day of stroke; 10-second standing balance, 3 days; 10-step walk, 6 days; and a 10-meter walk, 9 days. Subjects sustaining a partial anterior circulation infarct, lacunar infarct, or posterior circulation infarct achieved the mobility milestones most rapidly and generally had a shorter hospital stay. A hierarchical pattern of recovery of mobility reflecting variation between subgroups was observed. Predicted timescales for recovery of mobility are suggested.