The Relationships between Degree of Gait Independence and Gait Ability and Motor Imagery of Hemiplegic Stroke Patients

[Purpose] With hemiplegic stroke patients as subjects, we investigated the relationships between motor imagery ability and gait ability and degree of gait independence. [Subjects] The subjects were 28 hemiplegic stroke patients. [Methods] We measured subjects’ times in the timed up and go (TUG) test and 10-m walking, as well as their mental times of motor imagery. Motor imagery ability was defined as the difference between the mental and actual times. We investigated the relationships between motor imagery ability and gait ability and degree of gait independence using regression analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. [Results] Mental time and actual time, and motor imagery ability and actual time showed moderate correlations. Under the condition of TUG performed at a comfortable speed, motor imagery ability showed moderate correlations with gait ability and degree of gait independence, as well as a moderate degree of prediction accuracy. [Conclusion] Motor imagery ability of gait is related to gait ability and degree of gait independence.