Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the relationship of spasticity of the affected lower extremity and gait speed in hemiplegic stroke patients.MethodsThe knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor of the affected lower extremity of 35 hemiplegic stroke patients were evaluated with modified Ashworth Scale to determine the degree of spasticity. Gait speed, step length and walking frequency of patients were tested to find out if they were correlated with spasticity of lower extremity and affected by which spastic factor.ResultsThere was a moderate negative correlation between gait speed and spasticities of the knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor (r=-0.432,P<0.05;r=-0.448,P<0.05), but the spasticity of the knee extensor was only negatively correlated to the walking rate(r=-0.415,P<0.05) and plantar flexor was negatively correlated to the step length and walking rate(r=-0.41,P<0.05;r=-0.335,P<0.05). Spasticities of the knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor were not related to the maximal gait speed ( r=-0.118-0.307,P>0.05). Regression analyses revealed that the spasticity of plantar flexor was independent determinants of the comfortable gait speed (R²=0.20,P<0.01) and step length (R²=0.168,P<0.05), the spasticity of knee extensor was the independent determinant of the walking rate (R²=0.172,P<0.05).ConclusionSpasticity of the affected lower extremity in hemiplegic stroke patients only has a small effectiveness to gait speed, more important clinical factors other than spasticity should be considered when the treatment is aimed to improve aspects of gait capacity of stroke patients.

Key words: stroke, hemiplegia, lower extremity, spasticity, gait speed