Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke

Introduction: Stroke causes muscle weakness and atrophy, which leads to functional and mobility disorders. Muscle weakness of the lower limb is closely related to decreased gait performance, endurance and speed. We propose to identify the current principles of gait reeducation in Romania in order...

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Main Authors: Alexandra Ionela PRALA, Luminita Ionela GEORGESCU, Mirela Carmen DAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Oradea Publishing House 2024-12-01
Series:Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy
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Online Access:https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/MeKFiQgEbcsZCqq
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author Alexandra Ionela PRALA
Luminita Ionela GEORGESCU
Mirela Carmen DAN
author_facet Alexandra Ionela PRALA
Luminita Ionela GEORGESCU
Mirela Carmen DAN
author_sort Alexandra Ionela PRALA
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Stroke causes muscle weakness and atrophy, which leads to functional and mobility disorders. Muscle weakness of the lower limb is closely related to decreased gait performance, endurance and speed. We propose to identify the current principles of gait reeducation in Romania in order to build, based on the results obtained, a new gait recovery strategy that will bring novel elements. Materials and Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study, carried out over a period of three months, using a questionnaire developed on Google Forms platform, addressed to specialists dealing with gait rehabilitation in people with stroke. Results: During the 3 months it was distributed, the questionnaire was completed by 257 people. The gait recovery programs currently followed by medical recovery specialists largely emphasize the prioritization of ankle joint restoration (78.5%) through recovery programs built according to the functional status of the patients and the motivation is that 96.4% of patients with post-ischemic stroke sequelae are experiencing foot dorsiflexion deficit. However, there are also specialists who focus on restoring the whole kinetic chain of the lower limb (87.1%) but 68.09% of them follow exclusively classical protocols and do not consider it necessary or useful to try to bring novel elements in gait recovery. Discussion: The motor rehabilitation of pathologic gait requires a set of impulses and information necessary for the development, restoration and improvement of bipedal locomotion capacity and the acquisition of new skills for strengthening and readaptation of gait to new conditions. Conclusion: Analyzing the data provided by the applied questionnaire, we have identified information in line with the benchmarks of specialized studies but also particularities of the existing therapeutic approaches that we consider worth to be improved in order to support the beneficiaries of gait rehabilitation services.
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spelling doaj-art-7a620075c6f647158a8708bbddd324af2025-08-20T03:13:05ZengUniversity of Oradea Publishing HouseRomanian Journal of Physical Therapy2068-17122024-12-0130535059doi:10.61215/RJPT.2024.30.53.50Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a StrokeAlexandra Ionela PRALA0Luminita Ionela GEORGESCU1Mirela Carmen DAN2octoral School of Sports Science and Physical Education, University Center of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucuresti, Pitesti, RomaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, University Center of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucuresti, Pitesti, RomaniaDepartment of Medicine, Vasile Goldis West University of Arad, Arad, RomaniaIntroduction: Stroke causes muscle weakness and atrophy, which leads to functional and mobility disorders. Muscle weakness of the lower limb is closely related to decreased gait performance, endurance and speed. We propose to identify the current principles of gait reeducation in Romania in order to build, based on the results obtained, a new gait recovery strategy that will bring novel elements. Materials and Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study, carried out over a period of three months, using a questionnaire developed on Google Forms platform, addressed to specialists dealing with gait rehabilitation in people with stroke. Results: During the 3 months it was distributed, the questionnaire was completed by 257 people. The gait recovery programs currently followed by medical recovery specialists largely emphasize the prioritization of ankle joint restoration (78.5%) through recovery programs built according to the functional status of the patients and the motivation is that 96.4% of patients with post-ischemic stroke sequelae are experiencing foot dorsiflexion deficit. However, there are also specialists who focus on restoring the whole kinetic chain of the lower limb (87.1%) but 68.09% of them follow exclusively classical protocols and do not consider it necessary or useful to try to bring novel elements in gait recovery. Discussion: The motor rehabilitation of pathologic gait requires a set of impulses and information necessary for the development, restoration and improvement of bipedal locomotion capacity and the acquisition of new skills for strengthening and readaptation of gait to new conditions. Conclusion: Analyzing the data provided by the applied questionnaire, we have identified information in line with the benchmarks of specialized studies but also particularities of the existing therapeutic approaches that we consider worth to be improved in order to support the beneficiaries of gait rehabilitation services.https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/MeKFiQgEbcsZCqqstroke rehabilitationdorsiflexion deficiencygait recovery
spellingShingle Alexandra Ionela PRALA
Luminita Ionela GEORGESCU
Mirela Carmen DAN
Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke
Romanian Journal of Physical Therapy
stroke rehabilitation
dorsiflexion deficiency
gait recovery
title Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke
title_full Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke
title_fullStr Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke
title_full_unstemmed Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke
title_short Current Principles of Functional Gait Rehabilitation in Adults with Foot Drop after a Stroke
title_sort current principles of functional gait rehabilitation in adults with foot drop after a stroke
topic stroke rehabilitation
dorsiflexion deficiency
gait recovery
url https://cloud.uoradea.ro/index.php/s/MeKFiQgEbcsZCqq
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