Prediction of Gait Independence of Hemiplegic Patients after Stroke: From the Coefficients of Variation of Gait Time and One-Legged Standing Time

With a primary purpose of predicting gait independence of hemiplegic patients after stroke, we, in the present study, examined whether a coefficient of variation (CV) of gait time or one-legged standing time can be of valuable indices for the necessity of supervision while walking. The patients were divided into those who needed supervision and those who could walk independently, and there was a significant difference in CV and one-legged standing time of affected side between them. Seven out of 13 patients who needed supervision exhibited CV close to that of patients who could walk independently, but their ability to keep one-legged standing was obviously lower. These findings suggest that not only CV but also one-legged standing time is necessary to enhance reliability of prediction of gait independence.