None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term adult disability. The most common rehabilitation goal after stroke is to be able to walk again. However, of those initially unable to walk, only 60-70% recover the ability to walk independently by 6 months. Predicting the recovery of walking after stroke may assist clinicians, patients and their families to set realistic and attainable goals during rehabilitation and to make more informed decisions around discharge planning. Decisions around whether a patient is able to return to their own home after the stroke or whether they need to move into a residential care facility are often based on the ability to walk independently. Our research group has recently developed the TWIST (Time to Walk Independently after Stroke Trial) algorithm that enables a clinician, at 1 week after stroke, to predict not only whether an individual patient will walk independently, but when they will achieve this. The algorithm correctly predicted time to walk independently for 92% of patients. The purpose of this observational study is to evaluate and validate the TWIST algorithm in a larger patient sample.
Interventions
This study will observe recovery of walking ability after stroke. Participants' walking ability will be classified using the Functional Ambulation Category at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 20 and 26 weeks post-stroke. The TWIST algorithm combines clinical assessments of trunk control and lower limb muscle strength in order to predict when a patient will recover independent walking. The algorithm was previously developed in a sample of 40 patients. This study will validate the algorithm by seeing whethe
This study will observe recovery of walking ability after stroke. Participants' walking ability will be classified using the Functional Ambulation Category at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 20 and 26 weeks post-stroke. The TWIST algorithm combines clinical assessments of trunk control and lower limb muscle strength in order to predict when a patient will recover independent walking. The algorithm was previously developed in a sample of 40 patients. This study will validate the algorithm by seeing whether it correctly predicts the recovery of independent walking in an independent and larger sample of patients.
Sponsors
The University of Auckland
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage within the previous 72 hours New lower limb motor symptoms At least 18 years old Previous stroke is allowed provided the patient was walking independently prior to the new stroke Cognitive or communication impairment is allowed as assent to participation can be obtained from a family member
Exclusion criteria
Subarachnoid haemorrhage Unable to follow a one-step command, precluding lower limb strength testing Contraindications to non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation Pre-stroke Functional Ambulation Category score less than 4, meaning the patient was not walking independently Other neurological or orthopaedic conditions affecting lower limb function or walking Life expectancy less than 12 months
Outcome results
None listed