The Functional Independence of Patients With Stroke Sequelae: How Important Is the Speed, Oxygen Consumption, and Energy Cost of Walking?

Objective To evaluate the association between self-selected walking speed (Sfree), oxygen consumption at Sfree (Vo2free), cost of (Cw) Sfree, and mobility independence for activities daily living in individuals poststroke. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Hospital. Participants Individuals with stroke who were able to walk without human assistance included. We included 90 (N=90; mean age, 63.5±14.0y). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Cw was captured during from measurements Vo2free. assessed based on modified Functional Ambulation Classification (mFAC) by Barthel Index (BI). Multiple linear regression analyses performed Cw, Vo2free, determination BI mFAC among various characteristics population (age, delay, body mass index, motor function, spasticity). Results reported Cw=0.36 mL/kg/m (interquartile range [IQR]=0.28 mL/kg/m), Sfree=0.60±0.32 m/s, Vo2free=11.2 mL/kg/min (IQR=1.8 mL/kg/min). The multiple showed that independently associated (P<.01) scores. Vo2free not found be an explanatory variable functional (P>.05). Conclusions independence. This appears primarily determined underscoring importance evaluating acting improve stroke.