Can gait outcomes be predicted early after a stroke?

Purpose: To determine the ability of clinical measures collected within 72 hours of neurological insult to predict independent gait 6 and 12 months after a stroke.

Methods: Patients with a confirmed stroke diagnosis were eligible for inclusion in this prospective cohort study. Sitting balance, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) motor leg, NIHSS motor arm, and Motricity Index (MI) were measured within 72 hours post-stroke.