PHYSICAL AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AFFECTING WALKING IN THE COMMUNITY: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF CHRONIC STROKE SURVIVORS

Abstract

The transition from walking in clinical to community settings is problematic for many stroke survivors and few report walking in the community without difficulty. Improved walking ability is one of the most often stated goals by stroke rehabilitation participants and community-dwelling stroke survivors.The primary objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between walking in the community (daily step counts) and various physical and personal characteristics. The secondary objective of the study was to find out which factors predict walking in the community in chronic stroke survivors. Thirty-five stroke survivors, mean age 67.7 years, 7 years post-stroke took part in the study.6MWT, 10MWT and balance were significantly correlated to daily step counts. The hierarchical regression model we built containing age, sex, time since stroke, severity of stroke, distance walked during the 6MWT, fatigue scores and knee extensor strength predicted 50 % of variance in daily step counts.