RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHEELCHAIR PROPULSION AND INDEPENDENT WALKING IN HEMIPLEGIC STROKE

Background and Purpose We studied the relationship between wheelchair propulsion and final walking ability in hemiplegic stroke patients who were unable to walk independently 3 or more weeks after stroke. Methods Sixty hemiplegic stroke patients unable to walk independently 3 weeks or more after stroke were entered in a study comparing independent walking and wheelchair propulsion. Eight patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 52 patients, 29 were entered 3 weeks and 23 were entered 4 to 10 weeks after stroke. Assessments were performed on admission and 4 and 14 weeks later. Results Fifteen of the 17 patients able to propel a wheelchair through a simple course at 3 weeks after stroke learned to walk independently (chi(2)=9.94, P=.01), but none of the 12 who failed learned to walk (chi(2)=12, P=.001). At the final assessment, the positive association between wheelchair propulsion and walking had been lost: 21 of 21 walkers and 18 of 31 nonwalkers could propel a wheelchair (chi(2)=0.23, P=NS). The negative association remained: 13 of 31 nonwalkers failed the wheelchair test, but 0 of 21 walkers failed (chi(2)=13.0, P=.001). Visual field deficits were significantly more common in patients unable to walk or propel a wheelchair than in walkers (chi(2)=6.66, P=.01). Laterality had no effect on outcome. Conclusions Ability to propel a wheelchair 3 weeks after stroke in hemiplegic patients unable to walk is the most accurate guide to walking potential that has been reported to date.