Prediction of gait velocity in ambulatory stroke patients during rehabilitation

Abstract

Objective: To quantify prediction of gait velocity in ambulatory stroke patients during rehabilitation. Design: Single group ( n = 42) at the beginning of rehabilitation (Test 1) and 8 weeks later (Test 2). Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation. Patients: Unilateral first stroke; informed consent; able to walk 10 meters. Measures: Independent variables: Gait velocity at Test 1, age, time from stroke to Test 1, side of lesion, neglect. Dependent variables: Gait velocity at Test 2, gait velocity change. Results: The correlation between initial gait velocity and gait velocity outcome at Test 2 was of moderate strength ( r 2 = .62, p < .05). However, even at its lowest, the standard error of prediction for an individual patient was 9.4m/min, with 95% confidence intervals extending over a range of 36.8m/min. Age was a weak predictor of gait velocity at Test 2 ( r 2 = −.10, p < .05). Gait velocity change was poorly predicted. The only significant correlations were initial gait velocity ( r 2 = .10, p < .05) and age ( r 2 = .10, p < .05). Conclusion: While the prediction of gait velocity at Test 2 was of moderate strength on a group basis, the error surrounding predicted values of gait velocity for a single patient was relatively high, indicating that this simple approach was imprecise on an individual basis. The prediction of gait velocity change was poor. A wide range of change scores was possible for patients, irrespective of their gait velocity score on admission to rehabilitation.