Gait in hemiplegia: evaluation of clinical features with the wisconsin gait scale

Abstract

Objective: To assess the ability of the Wisconsin Gait Scale to evaluate qualitative features of changes in hemiplegic gait in post-stroke patients. Design: A prospective observational study. Subjects: Ten healthy subjects and 56 hemiplegic outpatients, more than 12 months post-stroke, consecutively admitted in a rehabilitation centre. Methods: Patients were videotaped while walking at a comfortable speed. Quantitative and clinical gait parameters were derived from videotaped walking tasks at admission and at the end of a period of rehabilitation training. Qualitative features were assessed using the Wisconsin Gait Scale. Functional status was rated through the modified Barthel Index. Conclusion:The Wisconsin Gait Scale is a useful tool to rate qualitative gait alterations of post-stroke hemiplegic subjects and to assess changes over time during rehabilitation training. It may be used when a targeted and standardized characterization of hemiplegic gait is needed for tailoring rehabilitation and monitoring results.

The Correlation of Gait Velocity, Cadence and Gait Quality Parameter Using Points of Gait Quality Chart (GQC) Items in Hemiplegic Patients

“…The results show that there were significant, positive correlation among the gait velocity, cadence and the Gait Quality Chart qualitative factors of the ankle joint, knee joint, and the trunk/arm (p<0.05), but not the hip joint/pelvic ratio, indicating that the quality of gait increased as the gait velocity and cadence increased. These results were consistent with the correlations between the quantitative gait parameters and the qualitative gait parameters found by Pizze et al 7) . However, there was no correlation between the gait velocity or cadence and the qualitative measurers of the hip joint/pelvis, including pelvis retraction, hip extension during stance, weight acceptance, and circumduction during swing.…”

“…However, there was no correlation between the gait velocity or cadence and the qualitative measurers of the hip joint/pelvis, including pelvis retraction, hip extension during stance, weight acceptance, and circumduction during swing. This result was different from that of a previous study in which measurement equipment was employed 7) . This result implies that items that show relatively small angular movement such as pelvis retraction are poorly evaluated by the visual judgment of therapists.…”

Efficacy of gait training using a treadmill with and without visual biofeedback in patients after stroke: A randomized study

“…This results in a reduction in walking speed, which reduces efficiency and increases energy expenditure. Therefore, one of the most important needs in the rehabilitation of patients with hemiparesis after stroke is to recover gait function (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

Clinical Feasibility of Integrating Fast-Tempo Auditory Stimulation with Self-Adopted Walking Training for Improving Walking Function in Post-Stroke Patients: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial

“…The 10-m walk test has been recognized for its high test-retest reliability in people with stroke (ICC = 0.87) 16) . The number of steps was measured while the subjects walked 20-m at a self-adopted comfortable speed, according to the method of Pizzi et al 17) . A qualitative assessment of the subjects' walking from clinical aspects was performed using the WGS, which is 18) .…”