[Purpose] Limitations in performing the 180°-turning increase the risk of falls and
disabilities in stroke patients. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the
180°-turning between people with and without stroke, considering the direction towards
which they turned. [Subjects and Methods] Fourteen subjects with stroke and 14 matched
healthy controls performed the 180°-turning twice while walking: towards the
self-selected, and the opposite directions. The turning performances were recorded using
three video cameras. The videos were randomly analyzed by a single examiner, who
characterized the turning, while considering the time required to complete the task, the
number of steps, balance, and turning type. Friedman Tests and ANOVA (2 × 2) were used to
compare the groups and turning direction factors (turning towards the self-selected versus
opposite sides, and towards the paretic/non-dominant versus non-paretic/dominant sides).
[Results] No interaction between the groups and turning directions, and no significant
differences between the turning directions were found. However, significant differences
were found between the groups for all variables used to characterize the turning
performance, except for the type of turning. [Conclusion] Stroke subjects demonstrated
poor performance on the 180°-turning, regardless of the turning direction. Duration,
number of steps, and balance loss indicated difficulties in turn performance.