Affiliations: [a] Rehabilitation Services Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| [b] King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| [c] Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| [d] Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| [e] Occupational Therapy Department, College of Applied Medical Science, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of the National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Professor Saad M. Bindawas, P.T., Ph.D., Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, PO Box 10219, 11433 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966 114696226; Fax: +966 118060232; E-mail: sbindawas@ksu.edu.sa.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Although several studies have shown an association of muscle weakness with gait speed (GS), no study has explored the relationship of muscle strength with swing phase duration and GS after stroke among the elderly in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE:To examine the association of affected ankle dorsiflexor and hip flexor muscle strength with swing phase duration and GS in the elderly with different stroke chronicity. METHODS:In this cross-sectional study, we included a total of 60 post-stroke patients aged ≥55 years who were admitted in neurorehabilitation units between May 2017 and August 2018. Linear regression was employed to examine the association of muscle strength (measured using a handheld dynamometer) with swing phase duration and GS (both measured using the computerized Zebris–Mat). RESULTS:The chronicity of the stroke was negatively associated (p < 0.05) with swing phase duration. The ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength was significantly associated with GS (β= 0.656, p = 0.041). In contrast, hip flexor muscle strength was significantly associated with GS (β= 0.574, p < 0.0001) even after adjusting for stroke chronicity (β= 0.561, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Stroke chronicity was the predictor that reduced swing phase duration. The ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength was associated with GS. However, the hip flexor muscle strength was associated with GS even after adjusting for stroke chronicity.
Keywords: Ankle dorsiflexion, hip flexion, muscle torque, rehabilitation, stroke
