Relationship between Probe Reaction Time during Walking and Falls for Patients with Post-Stroke Hemiplegia

Abstract

[Purpose] In this paper, we examined factors of physical function, reaction time and attention ability associated with falls. [Subjects] Twenty-seven young patients with post-stroke hemiplegia (males mean age 43.3±10.3 years), who had been receiving treatment at the China Rehabilitation Research Center, were divided into two groups: the Fall group and the No-fall group. [Methods] We evaluated the probe reaction time during walking, Trail Marking Test Part-A, Timed Up and Go Test, 10 m maximum walking speed, and the time of the walking cycle. [Results] The results show that the probe reaction time of the Fall group was slower, and the dispersion of the rhythm during walking was bigger than the No-fall group. In logistic regression analysis with fall as the dependent variable, the probe reaction time was identified as significant, and the cut-off value of the probe reaction time was 626 msec according to the ROC curve. [Conclusion] We consider that the probe reaction time is useful for the evaluation of falls risk in the patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.