Relationship among spontaneous turning direction, balance and fall risk in stroke patients during walking / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship among spontaneous turning direction, balance ability and fall risk in patients with stroke during walking. MethodsFrom December, 2021 to November, 2022, 94 patients with stroke were recruited from Beijing Bo'ai Hospital. They were assessed with simple Timed 'Up and Go' Test (TUGT, TUGT1), TUGT with a cup in hand (TUGT2), and TUGT with calculation task (TUGT3). The spontaneous turning directions at the turn point were recorded, and the patients were divided into no-same group (n = 34) and same group, and the same group was further divided into affected group (n = 33) and unaffected group (n = 27), according to the spontaneous turning direction. After a spontaneous turning of each TUGT, the patients were asked to finish another TUGT turning to the opposite direction. And then, they were assessed with single leg standing test, Functional Reach Test (FRT), 360° turning test and the Morse Fall Scale (MFS). ResultsThere were the most patients with left hemiplegia in the affected group (χ2 = 7.995, P < 0.05). The time of TUGT1, TUGT2 and TUGT3 was the most in the affected group and the least in the unaffected group (F > 4.009, P < 0.05), and it was more in the affected group than in the unaffected group as post-hoc test (P < 0.05). The one leg standing time (H = 9.403, P = 0.009) and FRT distance (F = 4.300, P = 0.016) were the least in the affected group and the most in the unaffected group, and it was less in the affected group than in the unaffected group as post-hoc test (P < 0.05). The turning time (F = 4.134, P = 0.019) and turning steps (F = 5.611, P = 0.003) were the most in the affected group and the least in the unaffected group, and it was more in the affected group than in the unaffected group as post-hoc test (P < 0.05). The score of MFS was the most in the affected group and the least in the unaffected group (H = 8.192, P = 0.017), and it was more in the affected group than in the unaffected group as post-hoc test (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe stroke patients spontaneously turning to the affected side during walking usually are poorer in balance function, and in a risk of fall.