Balance disability after stroke

Balance disability is common after stroke, butthere is little detailed information about it. The aims of this study wereto investigate the frequency of balance disability; to characterizedifferent levels of disability; and to identify demographics, strokepathology factors, and impairments associated with balance disability.Subjects. The subjects studied were 75 people with a first-time anteriorcirculation stroke; 37 subjects were men, the mean age was 71.5 years(SD12.2), and 46 subjects (61%) had left hemiplegia. Methods.Prospective hospital-based cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 2British National Health Service trusts. The subjects’ stroke pathology,demographics, balance disability, function, and neurologic impairmentswere recorded in a single testing session 2 to 4 weeks afterstroke. Results. A total of 83% of the subjects (n62) had a balancedisability; of these, 17 (27%) could sit but not stand, 25 (40%) couldstand but not step, and 20 (33%) could step and walk but still hadlimited balance. Subjects with the most severe balance disability hadmore severe strokes, impairments, and disabilities. Weakness andsensation were associated with balance disability. Subject demographics,stroke pathology, and visuospatial neglect were not associated withbalance disability. Discussion and Conclusion. Subjects with the mostsevere balance disability had the most severe strokes, impairments, anddisabilities. Subject demographics, stroke pathology, and visuospatialneglect were not associated with balance disability