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Georgiou, Theodoros; Holland, Simon; van der Linden, Janet and Visi, Federico
(2017).
Abstract
There are currently over 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK, and with more than 100,000 new incidents each year, stroke is a leading cause of adult disability. Almost three quarters of stroke survivors suffer from gait deficiencies.
In the case of hemiparetic stroke and related brain injuries, gait deficiencies typically take the form of bilateral spatial and temporal asymmetries. This can lead to overuse of the non-paretic (unaffected) leg, exposing it to higher vertical forces, and underuse of the paretic ( affected ) leg leading to loss of muscle tone and reduction of bone mineral density. This increases the risk of knee and joint problems together with hip and bone fractures, and the likelihood of falls. Restoring mobility and rehabilitation of gait are thus high priorities for post-stroke rehabilitation.