Abstract
Background: There is limited research on how assistive devices affect the gait kinematics of people in the subacute phase of stroke. The effects of walking with and without a front-wheeled rolling walker on the gait kinematics of participants in the subacute phase of stroke has not been examined. Methods: 5 participants walked with and without a front-wheeled rolling walker while a Qualysis camera system captured kinematic data. The Qualisys system integrates the individual camera data and converts this into real time motion data. Specifically, step length, step width, stride length, peak knee flexion, peak hip flexion, trunk rotation, and trunk flexion were assessed. The participants were categorized into 5 individual case studies. The data was analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis. Both the univariate and multivariate analysis compared the means of dependent variables with and without a walker. Results: Each participant demonstrated differences in gait patterns with and without the front wheeled rolling walker unique to that participant. Step width was not changed among the subjects. The data had a significant difference if the p-value was less than .05. Discussion: Participants 1, 2, and 5 showed either improved step length, stride length, peak knee flexion, or peak hip flexion gait kinematics when walking without a front-wheeled rolling walker. Participants 3 and 4 had improved gait mechanics when using a front-wheeled rolling walker. The changes in participants gait kinematics with and without a front-wheeled rolling walker demonstrates that more research needs to be performed in this area. Future studies should look at the difference in gait kinematics when using other assistive devices, such as a 4-wheeled walker or loft strand crutches, among participants in the subacute phase of stroke.