Lower limb motor function and hip muscle weakness in stroke survivors and their relationship with pelvic tilt, weight-bearing asymmetry, and gait speed: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Poor motor recovery of hip muscles affect the walking post-stroke. The study objective was to examine how lower extremity motor function and hip muscle weakness are related to weightbearing asymmetry (WBA), excessive pelvic tilt, and gait speed in stroke survivors.

Methods: Eighty patients with chronic stroke, a mean and standard deviation (SD) of post-stroke duration of 350 ± 664 days, age of 30-70 years, independent standing, and 10-meter walking capacity participated in the study. Hip muscular strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer (HHD) and motor function was assessed by Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower extremity (FMA-LE). The WBA was recorded using two weighing scales; whereas the pelvic tilt and gait speed were evaluated using palpation meter (PALM) and 10-meter walk test, respectively.

Results: The muscles strength of hip flexors, extensors, abductors, and adductors of the paretic side ranged between 22.0 and 24.4 pounds. The mean score of FMA-LE was 22 points. Following Pearson product-moment correlation with statistically significant P < 0.05, the relationship of hip muscles strength and FMA with WBA, lateral pelvic tilt (LPT) and anterior pelvic tilt (APT), and speed are as follows: flexors (r = 0.47, r = 0.31, r = 0.44, r = 0.44), extensors (r = 0.45, r = 0.38, r = 0.37, r = 0.35), abductors (r = 0.49, r = 0.32, r = 0.38, r= 0.40), adductors (r = 0.45, r = 0.31, r = 0.23, r = 0.34), and motor function (r = 0.62, r = 0.33, r = 0.38, r = 0.62).