The 4-meter walk test in stroke survivors

Posted on 07/19/2023 by Carina Salgueiro

Importance of studying people with stroke

We already know stroke or cerebrovascular accident is the most common cerebrovascular disease in the adult population. And with a high incidence rate. Most people who suffer a stroke are left with sequelae, many of them related to the sensory and motor component of the human body. That is, related to sensitivity (eg: tingling) and movement (eg: muscle paralysis).

 

Assessment of the sequelae of stroke

People who have suffered a stroke, and who have a physical impairment, are usually visited by a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist is in charge of assessing the current physical condition and establishing a therapeutic action plan.

One of the ways to assess people who have suffered a stroke is through an examination of sensation and movement. But accompanied by this assessment there may be tests and scales validated on purpose for this purpose.

 

10-meter walk test

One of the most used tests to measure how a person with stroke walks, is the 10-meter Walk Test (10mWT). On this test, you can find different guides but the most common is to count the time and the number of steps that the patient takes while walking 6 meters in a 10-meter corridor.

In clinical practice, for physiotherapists, it is difficult to find a 10-meter corridor free of distractions or obstacles, which is why it is important to find and study variants of it. One of the more reliable variants of the 10-meter Walk Test is the 4-meter Walk Test. This test consists of counting the time it takes the patient to walk a 4-meter corridor having an extra meter of acceleration and another additional meter at the end of deceleration and braking.

 

4-meter walk test

A study of the reliability of the 4-meter Walk Test and its correlation with other measurements that are usually made in people with sequelae of Ictus has recently been published. The study is titled “Evaluation of the test-retest test-retest reliability of the 4-meter walk test and its correlation with the five sit-to-stand test in chronic ambulatory stroke survivors”. It was carried out in Barcelona, ​​specifically by researchers from the International University of Catalonia in Sant Cugat del Vallés.

To consult the scientific article of the study, see the following link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636223000140

 

 

 

(Español) Qué es la terapia ocupacional

Posted on 07/05/2023 by Laura Arévalo

Occupational therapy is a health discipline that focuses on helping people perform daily activities independently and meaningfully. In the case of neurological patients, occupational therapy is essential to improve their quality of life and their ability to perform daily activities.

Neurological patients may present a variety of problems, such as muscle weakness, coordination problems, difficulty speaking or swallowing, memory problems, and difficulty performing daily tasks. Occupational therapy can help these patients overcome these problems and improve their ability to perform daily activities.

Occupational therapy in neurological patients focuses on helping the patient regain lost skills or develop new skills to perform daily activities. This may include activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and performing household tasks.

Occupational therapy can also help neurological patients improve their ability to communicate and socialize. This may include activities such as participation in support groups, practice of social skills, and participation in recreational activities.

In addition, occupational therapy can help neurological patients improve their ability to perform work and educational activities. This may include the practice of work skills, adaptation of tools and equipment for work, and participation in vocational training programs.

In summary, occupational therapy is an essential discipline to help neurological patients improve their quality of life and their ability to perform daily activities. Occupational therapists work closely with patients and their families to develop personalized treatment plans that address the individual needs of each patient. With the help of occupational therapy, neurological patients can regain lost skills, develop new skills, and improve their ability to perform daily activities independently and meaningfully.