Measures of activity limitation on admission to rehabilitation after stroke predict walking speed at discharge: an observational study

Question: Which measures of activity limitation on admission to rehabilitation after stroke best predict walking speed at discharge? Design: Prospective observational study. Participants: 120 people with stroke undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Outcome measures: Predictors were admission walking speed, Timed Up and Go, Motor Assessment Scale, Modified Elderly Mobility Scale, and Functional Independence Measure scores measured on admission to rehabilitation. The outcome of interest was walking speed at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Results: Admission walking speed (B 0.47, 95% Cl 0.27 to 0.67) and Item 2 of the Motor Assessment Scale, ie, moving from supine lying to sitting over the side of a bed (B 0.05, 95% Cl 0.01 to 0.09) predicted walking speed on discharge from rehabilitation. These two predictors explained 36% of the variance in discharge walking speed. Conclusion: Walking speed at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation was best predicted by admission walking speed and Motor Assessment Scale Item 2. [Kuys SS, Bew PG, Lynch MR, Morrison G, Brauer SG (2009) Measures of activity limitation on admission to rehabilitation after stroke predict walking speed at discharge: an observational study. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 55: 265-268]