Ambulation recovery after stroke [thesis]

Niruthikha Mahendran
Most stroke survivors regard successful independent ambulation important. However, ambulation recovery is limited following stroke. Historically, limited availability of objective tools and measures to characterise free-living ambulation recovery has restricted investigation of this outcome after survivors return home. However, commercially available devices, including accelerometers and portable global positioning systems, are now available. Thus, this thesis aimed to characterise free-living
more » ... mbulation recovery over the first six months after stroke survivors returned home from hospital and determine what factors at discharge contributed to ambulation recovery across this time. The first study of this thesis investigated the concurrent validity and retest reliability of accelerometers (ActivPAL TM and Sensewear Pro 2 Armband) and global positioning systems (GPS) (Garmin forerunner 405CX) to measure free-living ambulation after stroke. Measures of step counts, time spent walking, energy expenditure, distance and location were taken during walking tasks that impose demands similar to those encountered when walking in the community as well as free-living community ambulation over four days. This study determined that the ActivPAL TM was valid and reliable for measuring ambulation after stroke. The GPS was valid and reliable for all vii Publications during candidature Peer-reviewed publications Submitted for review Mahendran, N., Kuyss, S.S., Downie, E., Ng, P., & Brauer, S.G. Validity and reliability of accelerometers and GPS for community ambulation measurement after stroke.
doi:10.14264/uql.2015.901 fatcat:mz3jiwn4zzf35fxbrpfrrro4dy