SELF-SELECTED WALKING SPEED IN PATIENTS WITH HEMIPARESIS AFTER STROKE

''Self-selected walking speed'' was measured in 18 patients with hemip aresis after stroke and compared with that in a healthy control group, The average speed of the patient group for a 30 m walk was 0.78 m/s ( SD 0.24) and of the control group 1.69 mis (SD 0.05), The intraindivid ual variation for the patients was 0.004 m/s and the interindividual v ariation 0.37 m/s, For the controls, the corresponding values were 0.0 00 m/s and 0.003 m/s, respectively, ''Self-selected walking speed'' co rrelated significantly with ''functional walking test'' (r = 0.91) and , ''number of steps'' (r = 0.97) as well as with self-assessment score s of walking ability and stiffness, the degree of motor function of th e lower extremities, muscle tone and balance, The significant correlat ion between ''self-selected walking speed'' and other studied tests st rengthens their validity and implies that they can be used separately or in combination to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation programmes in patients with hemiparesis after stroke.