Motor function and joint position sense in relation to gait performance in chronic stroke patients.

Abstract

To determine the association between joint position sense (JPS) and motor function of the lower extremity and gait performance of patients with chronic stroke. Single-group cross-sectional design. University gait laboratory. Twenty-one patients with stroke onset of more than 6 months. Not applicable. The isometric strength, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) motor status, and JPS of the lower extremity were tested. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics were measured using a 6-camera motion analysis system, with patients walking at their comfortable speeds while using their usual devices. Lower-extremity muscle strength and FMA motor score correlated significantly with the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait and contributed significantly to the variance in gait velocity, stride length, and double-stance time. The JPS was not related to gait performance, except that the ankle JPS contributed significantly to the variance in gait velocity and stride length. For patients with chronic stroke, motor function was significantly related to gait performance. Although the JPS was not, that of the ankle joint made a significant contribution. When enhancing gait performance is desired, improving the motor function is recommended, and the role of JPS should also be taken into consideration.