Association between Gait Performance and the Trunk Extension Range of Motion in Post-stroke Hemiplegia

[Purpose] To clarify the association between gait performance and the trunk extension range of motion in post-stroke hemiplegia. [Participants and Methods] The study involved 12 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia during the maintenance phase. Their active/passive trunk extension ranges of motion were measured, adopting the Japanese Orthopaedic Association’s method. As for gait performance, the patients’ gait velocity, cadence, and stride length were calculated from their 10-m Test scores and examined using Pearson’s correlation analysis. [Results] The active trunk extension range of motion showed strong correlations with the gait velocity and stride length. [Conclusion] The trunk extension range of motion of the patients with post-stroke hemiplegia represented their gait performance. Based on this, the active trunk extension range of motion may be associated with gait in post-stroke hemiplegia.