Motor function and joint position sense in relation to gait performance in chronic stroke patients

Objectives: To determine the association between joint position sense (JPS) and motor function of the lower extremity and gait performance of patients with chronic stroke. Design: Single-group cross-sectional design. Setting: University gait laboratory. Participants: Twenty-one patients with stroke onset of more than 6 months. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: The isometric strength, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) motor status, and JPS of the lower extremity were tested. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics were measured using a 6-camera motion analysis system, with patients walking at their comfortable speeds while using their usual devices. Results: Lower-extremity muscle strength and FMA motor score correlated significantly with the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait and contributed significantly to the variance in gait velocity, stride length, and double-stance time. The JPS was not related to gait performance, except that the ankle JPS contributed significantly to the variance in gait velocity and stride length. Conclusions: For patients with chronic stroke, motor function was significantly related to gait performance. Although the JPS was not, that of the ankle joint made a significant contribution. When enhancing gait performance is desired, improving the motor function is recommended, and the role of JPS should also be taken into consideration.