A PILOT STUDY TO INVESTIGATE EXPLOSIVE LEG EXTENSOR POWER AND WALKING
PERFORMANCE AFTER STROKE
|
Helen
Dawes1,3 ,
Catherine Smith2, Johnny Collett3, Derick Wade4,
Ken Howells3, Roger Ramsbottom3, Hooshang Izadi5
and Cath Sackley6 |
1Department of Clinical Neurology, University
of Oxford, UK
2School of Healthcare, Oxford Brookes University, UK
3School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University,
UK
4Oxford Centre for Enablement, Oxford, UK
5School of Technology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Oxford Brookes
University, UK
6School of Health Sciences,, University of Birmingham, UK.
| Received |
|
27 June 2005 |
| Accepted |
|
18
October 2005 |
| Published |
|
01
December 2005 |
©
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2005) 4, 556
- 562
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| ABSTRACT |
| We
examined explosive leg extensor power (LEP) and gait in men and women
after a stroke using an experimental observational design. A convenience
sample of consecutively referred individuals (8 men, 6 women) with
chronic stroke mean age ± SD, range, 46.4 ± 8.4, 32 - 57 years, and
able to walk for four minutes were recruited. The test re-test reliability
and performance of LEP was measured together with walking parameters.
LEP (Watts·kg-1) and gait measures during a four-minute
walk; temporal-spatial gait parameters (GAITRite®) and
oxygen cost of walking (mL·kg-1·m-1) were recorded.
Percentage Asymmetry LEP (stronger LEP - weaker LEP/stronger LEP x
100) was calculated for each person. LEP was reliable from test to
re-test ICC [3, 1] 0.8 - 0.7 (n = 9). Greater Asymmetry LEP correlated
strongly with reduced walking velocity, cadence, stance time, and
swing time on the weaker leg (n = 14) (p < 0.01). Findings demonstrate
explosive LEP, in particular Percentage Asymmetry LEP, can be measured
after stroke and is both reliable and related to walking performance.
LEP training of the stronger or weaker leg warrants further investigation
in this group.
KEY
WORDS: Stroke, leg extensor power, walking, asymmetry.
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