No abstract

In this study, gait patterns of patients with hemiplegia were investigated from the aspect of the time ratio of each phase of a gait cycle. [Subjects] Eighteen patients who had been hospitalized to a convalescent ward were included in this study. [Methods] We videotaped patients' leg movements during walking, and determined the beginning of the stance and the swing phases. We normalized the beginning of each phase to patients' stride time. The gait patterns of each patient were assessed every 3 weeks from the time when they could walk until their discharge from the hospital. All gait patterns were classified with the corresponding Brunnstrom stages. [Results] There were significant differences in the ratio of the stance and the swing phases of a gait cycle between Brunnstrom stages II and III, and between stages IV and V. A longitudinal study is required for further investigation into the details.