The relationship between lower-limb coordination and fall risk during single- and dual-task walking in patients with stroke: a prospective study.

Abstract

Reduced lower-limb coordination is considered one of the reasons for the increased risk of falls during walking in patients with stroke. However, it remains unclear whether lower-limb coordination during single- and dual-task walking affects fall risk in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to develop regression models based on the mean continuous relative phase (MCRP) and its variability (MCRPV) under different walking conditions to explore the relationship between lower-limb coordination and fall risk. Forty patients with stroke were enrolled and followed up for one year after completing single-task walking, cognitive dual-task walking, and motor dual-task walking tests. Participants were divided into fallers and non-fallers according to whether a fall occurred during the follow-up. Indicators showing significant between-group differences without collinearity were used as predictors in the regression models. The results showed that increased MCRPV between the unaffected hip and knee joints during the affected-side stance phase in single-task walking, increased MCRPV between the affected knee and ankle joints during the affected-side swing phase in cognitive dual-task walking, and increased MCRP between the unaffected hip and knee joints during the affected-side swing phase in motor dual-task walking were all associated with a higher risk of falling in patients with stroke. The predictive models under the three walking tasks showed similar performance.