Relationship between the Arms Crossed Seated Side Tapping Test and the Gait Speed of Hemiplegic Stroke Patients

Abstract

Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the gait speed and Arms Crossed Seated Side Tapping test (AC-SST) in hemiplegic stroke patients. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-two hemiplegic patients, who could walk independently or with a cane, participated in this study. We measured their gait speed, AC-SST performance, basic characteristics (age, sex, height, weight), and clinical characteristics (duration after onset of stroke, Brunnstrom stage of lower extremity, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower extremity).[Results] Only the AC-SST was found to correlate significantly with gait speed; the other factors showed no correlation. [Conclusion] The significant correlation between gait speed and AC-SST indicates that the ability to move the trunk quickly is an important aspect of the gait function of hemiplegic stroke patients.