Background: Proprioception deficits are common post-stroke and may lead to impaired standing balance and restricted mobility.
Objectives: To compare 1) mobility, balance, balance confidence (BC), independence in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) of individuals with and without mild proprioception deficits at the chronic stage post-stroke. In addition, 2) correlations between mobility, balance and BC to BADL and IADL will be assessed.
Methods: Sixty-four participants [mean(SD) age - 59.9(9.3), 61% men, 26.1(18.3) months post-stroke] underwent the Thumb Localization Test (TLT) to assess proprioception; 45 participants had intact proprioception and 19 participants had mild proprioception deficits. The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and the Functional Reach Test (FRT) assessed mobility and balance (respectively). Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale rated BC. BADL and IADL was also assessed.
Results: Significant differences in mobility, balance and BC, BADL, IADL were found between participants with and without mild proprioception deficits. Correlations between mobility, balance, and BC to BADL and IADL, were significant (p < 0.05) for all 64 participants, but not within groups.
Conclusions: Mild proprioception deficits seem to be a confounding factor for explaining daily living at the chronic stage post-stroke. Proprioception screening is recommended for clinical practice and future research.
Keywords: Balance confidence; cardiovascular accident; mobility; proprioception; stroke.