Relationship between Unilateral Spatial Neglect and Independence of Hemiplegic Gait Following Stroke

Abstract

With the objective of clarifying the relationship between unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and practical independence of hemiplegic gait following stroke, we investigated the relationship between independence of hemiplegic gait and the presence or absence of USN, and its severity, among 42 inpatient subjects of our subacute rehabilitation unit who could walk independently in the rehabilitation room. No relationship was found between the degree of severity of USN on admission and independence of hemiplegic gait 3 months later, but a relationship was found between degree of severity of USN at 3 months after admission and independence of hemiplegic gait at the same time. However, the discriminant contribution ratio of the degree of severity of USN in independence of hemiplegic gait was only 14.4%, so we conjecture that a factor other than USN has a greater influence on independence of hemiplegic gait.