Abstract TP144: The Relationship Between Gait Speed and Self-Reported Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors After Treatment With a Therapeutic Gait Device

Introduction: In stroke survivors, variables associated with lower quality of life (QOL) include hemiplegia, lower functional status, degree of walking ability, speed of gait, and overall walking dysfunction. The iStride TM Gait Solution, a home-use gait treatment device, has been shown to improve gait speed and other functional parameters in stroke survivors. This analysis discusses the relationship found between gait speed parameters and self-reported QOL after treatment with the iStride TM Gait Solution. Methods: Nineteen subjects were treated with the iStride TM device in their home environment for a targeted 12 sessions over four weeks. QOL was measured using the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) and gait speed was measured using the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) at comfortable pace. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and one-week post-treatment. Results: Results showed a statistically significant improvement from baseline to one-week follow-up for 10MWT (p=0.0001) and SS-QOL (p=0.007). The relationship between these variables appeared to be more dependent on the % improvement of gait speed and the ending gait speed being above the mean baseline speed (0.575 m/s) than the absolute improvement in gait speed. For example, subjects starting below the mean gait speed improved 23 points (14.8%) on SS-QOL (gait speed improvement = 0.22m/s) compared to 11.7 points (8%) on SS-QOL (gait speed improvement = 0.33 m/s). In addition, subjects that improved from the home ambulator category to limited community ambulator improved an average of 15.3 points (10.2%) on SS-QOL while subjects improving from limited community ambulator to full community ambulator improved only 4.8 points (4.6%) SS-QOL, despite a 0.16 m/s larger gait speed improvement. Conclusions: The results of this analysis indicate that larger gains in QOL may be achieved by focusing on patients reaching a gait speed above approximately 0.575 m/s. Our findings also support the importance of helping home ambulator stroke survivors achieve limited community ambulator status. These findings may guide clinicians who desire to improve the QOL of their patients to select effective treatment methods targeting gait speed improvement.