180° turn while walking: characterization and comparisons between subjects with and without stroke.
Christina Danielli Coelho de Morais Faria, Bárbara Paula de Carvalho-Pinto, Sylvie Nadeau and 1 others
PMID 27821916WHAT IT FOUND
People with stroke took longer, used more steps, and lost balance more often during turns than matched healthy controls.
Turning toward either side made no difference.
Key findings
01People with stroke took longer to complete the turn than healthy controls (4.3 ± 1.7 seconds vs 2.1 ± 0.4 seconds).
02People with stroke used more steps to turn than healthy controls (4.8 ± 1.3 steps vs 3.2 ± 0.7 steps) and lost balance more often.
03Turning toward the preferred side, the non-preferred side, the paretic side, or the non-paretic side did not change turn time, steps, balance, or turning type.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 14 people with stroke and 14 healthy controls were studied, so the results may not represent all people after stroke. The study was a single comparison of groups, not a treatment trial, so it cannot show what improves turning. People with receptive aphasia were excluded, so the findings may not apply to stroke patients with receptive language problems. Biomechanical and sensory factors that may affect turning were not measured. Participants had to be able to perform the Timed Up and Go test, with or without assistive devices, so it says little about people who cannot complete that test.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that turning toward the paretic side is the main problem. The study found no difference between turning directions.