Reliability and validity of modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST) performance in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex disorder marked with non-motor and motor impairments, including gait abnormalities and postural instability. As a result of balance dysfunction and postural instability, falls and injuries are common composite impairments of PD. The modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST) replaces the canes utilized in the traditional Four Square Step Test (FSST) with tape to evaluate dynamic standing balance while stepping in multiple directions.

Gait asymmetry pattern following stroke determines acute response to locomotor task.

Background: Given the prevalence of gait dysfunction following stroke, walking recovery is a primary goal of rehabilitation. However, current gait rehabilitation approaches fail to demonstrate consistent benefits. Gait asymmetry, prevalent among stroke survivors who regain the ability to walk, is associated with an increased energy cost of walking and is a significant predictor of falls post-stroke.

Pelvic excursion during walking post-stroke: A novel classification system.

Background: Researchers and clinicians often use gait speed to classify hemiparetic gait dysfunction because it offers clinical predictive capacity. However, gait speed fails to distinguish unique biomechanical characteristics that differentiate aspects of gait dysfunction.

Research Question: Here we describe a novel classification of hemiparetic gait dysfunction based on biomechanical traits of pelvic excursion.

Effects of hip abduction and adduction accuracy on post-stroke gait.

Background: Gait instability often limits post-stroke function, although the mechanisms underlying this instability are not entirely clear. Our recent work has suggested that one possible factor contributing to post-stroke gait instability is a reduced ability to accurately control foot placement. The purpose of the present experiments was to investigate whether post-stroke gait function is related to the ability to accurately abduct and adduct the hip, as required for accurate foot placement.

Lower Extremity Strength Is Correlated with Walking Function After Incomplete SCI.

Background: Lower extremity strength has been reported to relate to walking ability, however, the relationship between voluntary lower extremity muscle function as measured by isokinetic dynamometry and walking have not been thoroughly examined in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).

Objective: To determine the extent to which measures of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and rate of torque development (RTD) in the knee extensor (KE) and plantar flexor (PF) muscle groups correlate with self-selected overground walking speed and spatiotemporal characteristics of walking.

Methods: Twenty-two subjects with chronic (>6 months) iSCI participated in a cross-sectional study.

Rehabilitation of walking after stroke.

Rehabilitation of walking after stroke has been investigated with a variety of interventions, which will be outlined in this review. To date, the majority of interventions have demonstrated a positive, but similar effect in the primary clinical outcome of self-selected walking speed. Consistent among the most successful interventions is a focus on the intensity of the intervention and the ability to progress rehabilitation in a structured fashion.