Relation of muscle strength to functional walking capacity post stroke

The main objective of this observational, cross sectional study is to estimate the extent to which muscle strength is independently associated with functional walking capacity among stroke patients. Sixty three stroke patients, from 3 to 12 months post onset, were evaluated on functional walking capacity (6 Minute Walk Test), muscle strength (hand held dynamometry), balance (Berg Balance Scale), and tone (Modified Ashworth Scale and Composite Spasticity Index). The results showed that a global index of muscle strength, balance, tone and comorbids explain 70% of the variability of the 6MWT. Moreover, the muscle strength of the affected side in gravity related positions, as an index, explain most of the variability (37%), in comparison to the other positions. In addition, the hip flexor in an alternate against gravity position, as an individual muscle, explains the most variability of walking capacity