Tactile sensation is needed for challenging walking ability among ambulatory individuals with stroke
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The improvement of walking ability is a key goal of stroke rehabilitation. The exploration of the contribution of sensorimotor functions to walking ability specifically among ambulatory individuals with stroke may provide data to enhance patient-centered care planning for this population. This study investigated the relationship between the lower extremity (LE) sensorimotor functions and walking ability as measured using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT) among 75 ambulatory individuals with stroke. Participants with stroke who could walk independently with or without a walking device were assessed for their LE sensorimotor functions, and 10MWT while walking at their preferred and fastest speeds. The correlations were analyzed using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs). The findings indicated that walking ability of the participants correlated predominantly with LE motor scores (rs = 0.628–0.660; p-value < 0.01), followed by LE proprioception scores (rs = 0.449–0.473, p-value < 0.01), while the LE tactile scores significantly correlated only with the fastest walking speed, and the differences between preferred and fastest speed) (rs = 0.254–0.279, p-value < 0.01). The fastest walking speed is important for community participation, and the ability to voluntarily increase walking speed could indicate the remaining capacity for a community challenge as well as indicate and quantify how well the individuals could modify their walking pattern to varying demands during daily life. The present findings suggest contribution of sensorimotor scores on walking ability of the participants, whereby the tactile sensation is needed for challenging ability. Therefore, apart from motor functions and proprioception, tactile sensation is also required to thoroughly promote walking ability of ambulatory individuals with stroke.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Lord SE, McPherson K, McNaughton HK, Rochester L, Weatherall M. Community ambulation after stroke: how important and obtainable is it and what measures appear predictive? Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004; 85(2): 234-9.
Chia FS, Kuys S, Low Choy N. Sensory retraining of the leg after stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil 2019; 33(6): 964-79.
Connell L, Lincoln N, Radford K. Somatosensory impairment after stroke: frequency of different deficits and their recovery. Clin Rehabil 2008; 22(8): 758-67.
Tyson SF, Hanley M, Chillala J, Selley AB, Tallis RC. Sensory loss in hospital-admitted people with stroke: characteristics, associated factors, and relationship with function. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2008; 22(2): 166-72.
Tyson SF, Crow JL, Connell L, Winward C, Hillier S. Sensory impairments of the lower limb after stroke: a pooled analysis of individual patient data. Top Stroke Rehabil 2013; 20(5): 441-9.
Cheng DKY, Dagenais M, Alsbury-Nealy K, Legasto JM, Scodras S, Aravind G, et al. Distance-limited walk tests post-stroke: A systematic review of measurement properties. NeuroRehabilitation 2021; 48(4): 413-39.
Wiyanad A, Thaweewannakij T, Intaruk R, Namwong W, Amatachaya S. Walking speed to determine walking performance of people with mobility limitations from a developing country. Physiother Theory Pract 2024; 40(9): 1925-32.
Busk H, Holm P, Skou ST, Seitner S, Siemsen T, Wienecke T. Inter-rater reliability and agreement of 6-minute walk test and 10-meter walk test at comfortable walk speed in patients with acute stroke. Physiother Theory Pract 2023; 39(5): 1024-32.
Cheng DK, Nelson M, Brooks D, Salbach NM. Validation of stroke-specific protocols for the 10-meter walk test and 6-minute walk test conducted using 15-meter and 30-meter walkways. Top Stroke Rehabil 2020; 27(4): 251-61.
van Hedel HJA, Dietz V, Curt A. Assessment of walking speed and distance in subjects with an incomplete spinal cord injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2007; 21(4): 295-301.
Black-Schaffer RM, Winston C. Age and functional outcome after stroke. Top Stroke Rehabil 2004; 11(2): 23-32.
Hathidara MY, Saini V, Malik AM. Stroke in the young: a global update. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2019; 19(11): 91.
Thibaut A, Chatelle C, Ziegler E, Bruno MA, Laureys S, Gosseries O. Spasticity after stroke: physiology, assessment and treatment. Brain Injury 2013; 27(10): 1093-105.
Promkeaw D, Mato L, Thaweewannakij T, Arrayawichanon P, Saensook W, Amatachaya S. Walking on different surfaces challenged ability of community-dwelling elderly. Arch AHS 2018; 30(1): 39-46.
Connell L, Tyson S. Measures of sensation in neurological conditions: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil 2012; 26(1): 68-80.
Goliwąs M, Małecka J, Adamczewska K, Flis-Masłowska M, Lewandowski J, Kocur P. Polish cultural adaptation and reliability of the Fugl-Meyer assessment of motor performance and sensory assessment scale in stroke patients. J Clin Med 2024; 13(13): 3710.
Sullivan KJ, Tilson JK, Cen SY, Rose DK, Hershberg J, Correa A, et al. Fugl-Meyer assessment of sensorimotor function after stroke: standardized training procedure for clinical practice and clinical trials. Stroke 2011; 42(2): 427-32.
Cameron D, Bohannon RW. Criterion validity of lower extremity Motricity Index scores. Clin Rehabil 2000; 14(2): 208-11.
Fayazi M, Dehkordi SN, Dadgoo M, Salehi M. Test-retest reliability of Motricity Index strength assessments for lower extremity in post stroke hemiparesis. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2012; 26(1): 27-30.
Schröder J, Truijen S, Van Criekinge T, Saeys W. Peripheral somatosensory stimulation and postural recovery after stroke – a systematic review. Top Stroke Rehabil 2018; 25(4): 312-20.
Amatachaya S, Kwanmongkolthong M, Thongjumroon A, Boonpew N, Amatachaya P, Saensook W, et al. Influence of timing protocols and distance covered on the outcomes of the 10-meter walk test. Physiother Theory Pract 2020; 36(12): 1348-53.
Akoglu, H. User’s guide to correlation coefficients. Turk J Emerg Med 2018; 18(3): 91-3.
Wirz M, Van Hedel HJ, Rupp R, Curt A, Dietz V. Muscle force and gait performance: relationships after spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2006; 87(9): 1218-22.
Flansbjer U, Miller M, Downham D, Lexell J. Progressive resistance training after stroke: Effects on muscle strength, muscle tone, gait performance and perceived participation. Acta Derm Venereol 2008; 40(1): 42-8.
Bohannon R. Muscle strength and muscle training after stroke. Acta Derm Venereol 2007; 39(1): 14-20.
Maegele M, Müller S, Wernig A, Edgerton VR, Harkema SJ. Recruitment of spinal motor pools during voluntary movements versus stepping after human spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma 2002; 19(10): 1217-29.
Yu Y, Chen Y, Lou T, Shen X. Correlation between proprioceptive impairment and motor deficits after stroke: a meta-analysis review. Front Neurol 2022; 12: 688616.
Moore RT, Piitz MA, Singh N, Dukelow SP, Cluff T. The independence of impairments in proprioception and visuomotor adaptation after stroke. J NeuroEngineering Rehabil 2024; 21(1): 81.
Lee MJ, Kilbreath SL, Refshauge KM. Movement detection at the ankle following stroke is poor. Aust J Physiother 2005; 51(1): 19-24. 30. Wutzke CJ, Mercer VS, Lewek MD. Influence of lower extremity sensory function on locomotor adaptation following stroke: a review. Top Stroke Rehabil 2013; 20(3): 233-40.
Viseux FJF. The sensory role of the sole of the foot: Review and update on clinical perspectives. Neurophysiol Clin 2020; 50(1): 55-68.
