Assessing Mobility and Locomotor Coordination after Stroke with the Rise-to-Walk Task

Abstract

Introduction. To assess mobility and locomotor coordination after stroke with the rise-to-walk task (RTW) and to examine the construct and concurrent validity of this task. Methods. Nineteen subjects who had sustained a stroke and 19 healthy subjects performed the RTW task. The performance was recorded simultaneously with 2 clinical methods and 1 instrumented method. The RTW duration and fluidity of the motor strategy (fluid or non-fluid) were compared between groups and between methods. The relationship between RTW duration and 3 locomotor-related disability tests, as well as 1 motor impairment test, was studied. Results. The subjects with stroke took 65% more time to complete the RTW task, and 16/19 separated the tasks of rising and walking (nonfluid strategy). Measures of the RTW duration with clinical methods were strongly correlated (r = 0.84 to 0.98) to those from the instrumented method, and the motor strategy was successfully assessed from video records. The duration was moderately correlated to scores from other locomotor-related tests, but not to the motor impairment test. Discussion. The assessment of mobility and locomotor coordination with the RTW task indicate that both outcomes are impaired after stroke and that clinical methods provide a valid measurement of the task.