Step Length Asymmetry Is Indicative of Compensatory Mechanisms Used to Overcome Plantarflexor Weakness in Post-stroke Hemiparetic Gait

Post-stroke hemiparetic subjects walk with asymmetrical step lengths that are highly variable between subjects and may be indicative of underlying compensatory mechanisms utilized to overcome paretic plantarflexor impairment. The goal of this study was to examine the walking biomechanics of post-stroke hemiparetic subjects grouped by step length asymmetry and compare them to healthy controls walking at similar speeds. The results suggest that step length asymmetry is a useful metric to identify compensatory strategies. Those subjects who walked with longer paretic than nonparetic steps compensated for plantarflexor impairment predominantly with the nonparetic leg while those subjects who walked with symmetric steps compensated using a bilateral hip strategy.