PTOtherJournal of physical therapy science2018

The relationship between anterior pelvic tilt and gait, balance in patient with chronic stroke.

Myoung-Kwon Kim, Seong-Gil Kim, Young-Jun Shin and 2 others

PMID 29410560

WHAT IT FOUND

In 14 people with chronic stroke, greater forward pelvic tilt was linked to slower walking and shorter steps and strides.

It was not linked to the balance tests measured. This is an association, not proof that correcting tilt changes gait.

Key findings

01Anterior pelvic tilt angle was significantly negatively correlated with velocity (r=-0.61, p=0.03), step length (r=-0.59, p=0.04), and stride length (r=-0.60, p=0.03).

02Anterior pelvic tilt angle was not significantly correlated with cadence, cycle time, heel-to-heel base of support, TUG, 10-Meter Walk Test, limits of stability, or eyes-closed sway length/velocity.

03Walking velocity was significantly correlated with cadence (r=0.79), step length (r=0.84), stride length (r=0.85), cycle time (r=-0.78), heel-to-heel base of support (r=-0.84), TUG (r=-0.82), and 10-Meter Walk Test (r=-0.78).

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs

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What it does not show

Only 14 patients were studied, all from one centre, so the result may not apply to other settings. The study did not test whether changing pelvic tilt changes gait. Participants were selected for anterior pelvic tilt greater than 15°, Brunnstrom stage 3-5, and ability to walk at least 15 m, so patients who did not meet these criteria were not represented. The tilt angle was not significantly correlated with several balance and time-based gait measures, so the study does not support a link to those outcomes.

The easy way to misread this

Do not conclude that reducing anterior pelvic tilt will improve gait. The study measured association in 14 patients and did not test treatment.

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