The Relationship between Gait Asymmetry and Respiratory Function in Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: Gait asymmetry can become very pronounced in patients who have suffered a stroke. The impairment of trunk function in some stroke patients can restrict thorax mobility and cause respiratory muscle weakness. Trunk and neck dysfunction are believed to affect the gait in stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gait asymmetry and respiratory function in stroke patients by measuring the step time and trunk acceleration. METHODS: This study employed a cross-sec- tional design. Thirty stroke patients participated in this study. The symmetry index (SI) and Lissajous index (LI) were used to evaluate asymmetry during walking. The respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength were evaluated by spirometry. We examined the relation between SI or LI and the respiratory function/respiratory muscle strength in patients with stroke. RE- SULTS: The results of our analysis demonstrated that the SI was significantly correlated with the inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength and the LI was significantly correlated with the percentage of the predicted vital capacity (respectively, r = ﹣0.386, r = ﹣0.392, r = ﹣0.446;p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study is the first to indicate a relationship between gait asymmetry and respiratory function in stroke patients.

Measurement of the Wheelchair-Operating Time Spent by Stroke Patients Using a New Triaxial Accelerometer System

Purpose: We investigated the validity of a triaxial accelerometer system for measuring the time spent lying down, sitting, standing, walking, and operating a wheelchair by control subjects and stroke patients in a convalescence ward. Methods: Physical activities were measured using a new triaxial accelerometer system (A-MES;Activity Monitoring and Evaluation System) that consists of two sensors, a station, and analytical software used with a personal computer. In Experiment 1, the times that the healthy subjects (n = 12) spent operating a wheelchair, lying down, sitting, standing, and walking were measured both by the A-MES and by videotaping (video time). In Experiment 2, the amounts of time spent by the stroke patients not able to walk without support (n = 30) as they were lying down, sitting, standing, walking, and operating a wheelchair were measured by the A-MES. Results: The time spent operating a wheelchair measured with the A-MES was significantly correlated with the video time in the healthy subjects. The stroke patients’ average times (minutes) of total, operating a wheelchair, lying down, sitting, standing, and walking were 601.0 ± 18.1, 57.1 ± 28.8, 265.0 ± 86.3, 263.3 ± 60.6, 7.8 ± 7.0, and 7.7 ± 6.0, respectively. Conclusions: The A-MES accurately evaluated the stroke patients’ time spent operating a wheelchair. The stroke patients’ mean time spent operating a wheelchair over the course of one day was 57.1 ± 28.8 min in a Center for Rehabilitation.