The development of Ambulation Independence Measure: A new measurement tool to assess gait ability in acute stroke patients.
Yusuke Hayashi, Kota Yamazaki, Kouichi Takeda and 7 others
PMID 35068419WHAT IT FOUND
A new 7-point walking score in 73 acute stroke patients separated those using a KAFO from those using an AFO or no orthosis, tracked improvement from baseline to discharge, and was strongly linked to discharge walking ability.
Key findings
01Two physical therapists scored the AIM almost identically at baseline and discharge.
02At baseline, AIM scores of 1 or 2 identified KAFO users among patients with FAC score 1, and AIM score 3 identified non-KAFO users.
03Baseline AIM, trunk function and lower-limb motor function together predicted 80% of the variance in FAC at discharge.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study reports 198 patients matched inclusion criteria, and 73 eligible patients agreed to participate, so the sample may not represent all acute stroke patients. It was done in one acute hospital and included only patients with hemiparesis or hemiplegia and an FAC score below 3, so it does not address less impaired patients or later rehabilitation. Patients were excluded if they could not walk before stroke, could not follow instructions, had complications that could affect assessments, or did not consent, so people with severe aphasia, consciousness problems or other medical complications were not represented. The time between baseline and discharge varied, and the content of gait training, including orthosis type, was not controlled, so change over time cannot be separated from usual rehabilitation. The study tested measurement properties, not whether using the AIM changes orthosis decisions or patient outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest, and no funding was received.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that the AIM improves patient care or orthosis selection. The study tested whether the score is reliable and valid in 73 acute stroke patients; it did not test whether patients or therapists do better because of it.