Associations between changes in gait parameters, balance, and walking capacity during the first 3 months after stroke: a prospective observational study

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic and functional data at baseline (n = 79). Mean (SD) unless otherwise state

	Mean (SD)
Age (years)	75.4 (8.48)
Days hospitalized	6.5 (3.3)
Male gender, N (%)	44 (55.7)
Types of stroke
Embolic stroke, N (%)	75 (94.9)
Hemorrhagic stroke, N (%)	4 (5.1)
Modified Rankin Scale (0–6)	2.7 (1.0)
Barthel index (0–100)	85.7 (14.8)
Scandinavian Stroke Scale (0–58)	51.8 (4.6)
Bergs Balance Scale (0–56)	37.7 (15.5)
6-minute walk test (meters) Walking aid at baseline tests None, N (%) Cane, N (%) Walker, N (%)	400.9 (177.8) 58 (73.4) 7 (8.9) 14 (17.7)
SD: Standard Deviation

Table 2. Changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters, balance, and walking capacity from the acute phase to 3 months later at self-selected gait speed

	Baseline	3 months	Mean change
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)	Mean (95% CI)	p-value
Gait speed (m s^−1)	0.9 (0.3)	1.1 (0.3)	0.2 (0.1, 0.2)	<0.001
Step length (cm)	55.7 (12.9)	62.3 (13.1)	6.6 (4.5, 8.6)	<0.001
Stride width (cm)	8.1 (3.1)	7.6 (3.5)	−0.5 (−1.2, 0.2)	0.129
Single support (%)	33.9 (3.6)	35.1 (3.0)	1.2 (0.5, 1.8)	<0.001
Cadence (steps/min)	96.5 (16.7)	104.2 (12.0)	7.7 (5.0, 10.4)	<0.001
Walk ratio (step length/cadence)	0.58 (0.11)	0.60 (0.11)	0.02 (0.01, 0.03)	0.010
Asymmetry step length (%)	7.4 (9.3)	4.9 (4.1)	−2.5 (−4.1, −0.8)	0.004
Asymmetry single support (%)	5.9 (6.5)	4.8 (4.7)	−1.1 (2.4, −0.2)	0.098
Bergs Balance Scale (range 0–56)	37.7 (15.8)	48.0 (10.0)	10.3 (7.9, 12.6)	<0.001
6MWT (m)	380 (133)	441 (143)	61 (41, 79)	<0.001

SD: Standard Deviation, CI: Confidence Interval, 6MWT: 6-Minute Walk Trial; p-value <0.05.

Table 3. Bivariate and multivariate associations between changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters and changes in balance from acute phase to 3 months later

	Bivariate analysis			Multivariate analysis
	Coefficient (95% CI)	Standardized coefficient	p-value	Coefficient (95% CI)	Standardized coefficient	p-value
Step length (cm)	0.5 (0.3, 0.8)	0.4	<0.001
Cadence (steps/min)	0.3 (0.2, 0.5)	0.4	0.001
Gait speed (m s^−1)	18.1 (8.3, 27.8)	0.4	<0.001	13.8 (0.5, 27.8)	0.3	0.042
Single support (%)	1.3 (0.5, 2.1)	0.3	0.003	0.3 (−1.0, 1.5)	0.1	0.684
Walk ratio (step length/cadence)	22.4 (−17.6, 62.3)	0.1	0.268	11.1 (−27.8, 50.0)	0.1	0.572
Asymmetry step length (%)	−0.3 (−0.7, −0.1)	−0.2	0.036	−0.2 (−0.6, 0.2)	−0.1	0.354

CI: Confidence Interval; p-value <0.05.

Table 4. Bivariate and multivariate associations between changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters change in walking capacity from acute phase to 3 months later

	Bivariate analysis			Multivariate analysis
	Coefficient (95% CI)	Standardized coefficient	p-value	Coefficient (95% CI)	Standardized coefficient	p-value
Step length (cm)	6.8 (5.2, 8.3)	0.7	<0.001
Cadence (steps/min)	5.1 (3.7, 6.5)	0.7	<0.001
Gait speed (m s^−1)	265 (209, 322)	0.7	<0.001	256 (173, 340)	0.7	<0.001
Single support (%)	17.4 (11.1, 23.7)	0.6	<0.001	1.0 (−6.8, 8.8)	<0.1	0.792
Walk ratio (step length/cadence)	349.8 (1.6, 698.1)	0.2	0.049	−49.9 (−311.5, 211.6)	<-0.1	0.705
Asymmetry step length (%)	−5.1 (−8.9, −1.4)	−0.3	0.008	−0.8 (−3.9, 2.4)	<-0.1	0.619

CI: Confidence Interval; p-value <0.05.