Objective: We analyzed spontaneous 180° turning strategies in poststroke hemiparetic patients by using inertial measurement units (IMUs) and the association of turning strategies with risk of falls.
Methods: We included right paretic (RP) and left paretic (LP) post-stroke patients, and healthy controls (HCs) from a physical and rehabilitation department in France between July 2015 and October 2015. All subjects were right-handed and right-footed for mobilization tasks. Participants were instructed to turn 180° in a self-selected direction after a 10-m walk while wearing three IMUs on their trunk and both feet. We defined three turning patterns based on the number of external steps (pattern I = 1; II = 2-4 steps; and III ≥ 5) and four turning strategies based on the side chosen to turn (healthy or paretic) and the stance limb used during the first step of the turn (healthy or paretic). Falls in the 6 months after measurement were investigated.
Results: We included 17 RP [mean (SD) age 57.5 (9.5) years (range 43-73)], 20 LP patients [mean age 60.7 (8.8) years (range 43-63)], and 15 HCs [mean age 56.7 (16.1) years (range 36-83)]. The LP and RP groups behaved similarly in turning patterns, but 90% of LP patients turned spontaneously to the paretic side versus 59% of RP patients. This difference increased with turning strategies: 85% of LP versus 29% of RP patients used strategy 4 (paretic turn side with paretic limb). Patients using strategy 4 had the highest rate of falls.
Conclusion: We propose to consider spontaneous turning strategies as new indicators to evaluate the risk of fall after stroke. IMU could be routinely used to identify this risk and guide balance rehabilitation programs.
Keywords: 180° turn; fall; inertial measurement unit; stroke; turning strategy.