Walking, balance, and functional status: Comparison between perceived and actual assessments among ambulating persons post stroke in the community

 

Aziz NA 1, Radzniwan R 1, Chang LC 2, Hashim S1, Ezatt 3, Ibrahim N 4

1 Department of Family Medicine, Medical Faculty, UKM Medical Centre (UKM MC), Kuala Lumpur, 2 Umbai Health Clinic, Melaka, 3 Department of Community Health Sciences, Medical Faculty, UKM Medical Centre (UKM MC), Kuala Lumpur, and 4 Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Medical Faculty, UKM Medical Centre (UKM MC), Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

 

ABSTRACT

 

Introduction: Patients with stroke often perceive difficulty in walking, balance, and function which may hinder their recovery. This study was done to compare perception of patients with their true actual abilities. Materials and Methods: A total of 105 patients with new onset of stroke, attending outpatient clinics, participated in this study. Patients were given a self-administered questionnaire measuring perception of their abilities in walking, balance and functional health status. The actual walking capacity, balance, and functional health status of patients were measured by 10 metres walking test, Tandem Balance Test, and the Barthel index respectively. Result: Most of the patients had good perception towards their walking abilities. Good perception of balance and functional status were found in 68% and 56% of patients respectively. We also observed moderate agreement in walking (k: 0.497, p< 0.001) and balance (k: 0.537, p<0.001), but poor agreement in functional status (k: 0.144, p:0.004). Conclusion: Poor perception of functional status among stroke patients might be related to the aging and deterioration of other co-morbidities leading to the negative outlook in persons post stroke. Further research need to be undertaken to justify this finding. 

Keywords: Walking, ambulation, balance, persons post stroke, community

 

Correspondence author: MR ABD RASHID,

Department of Family Medicine, Medical Faculty, UKM Medical Centre (UKM MC), Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +60391456117

E mail: mradzniwan@yahoo.com

 

Brunei Int Med J. 2014; 10 (5): 247-255

 

 

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