Timing of propulsion-related biomechanical variables is impaired in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis.

The study included only 13 participants with post-stroke hemiparesis and 9 able-bodied controls, so the findings may not generalize broadly. Walking was measured on a treadmill with a front handrail and an overhead harness without body-weight support, so the results may not reflect overground walking without support. Only self-selected treadmill speed was tested, so findings may not apply to other speeds. The paretic leg was compared only with the dominant leg of able-bodied participants, so leg dominance and stroke side were not fully separated. One stroke participant did not show positive AGRF peaks during some gait cycles, and only cycles with AGRF were analyzed. The authors note possible effects from normalizing timing data by stride versus stance. The paper reports timing differences relative to toe-off but does not state the units or clinical meaning of the mean difference values. No intervention was tested, so the study cannot show that changing propulsion timing improves walking.

The authors have no conflicts of interest related to the current work. The supplied publication types list NIH extramural research support.

Do not conclude that gait training that changes propulsion timing will improve walking. This was a small observational gait analysis, not a treatment trial, and it only compared timing between legs and groups.