Relationship Between Characteristics of Segmental Phase Angles and Walking Ability in Patients with Hemiplegia After Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury

Yumi Izutani, Ryo Tsujinaka, Takahiro Yoshitani, Hikari Suzuki, Ryo Tanaka, Kaede Morimoto
Purpose:

The purpose of this novel study was to determine the characteristics of the PhA of the trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb at admission and their relationship with walking ability at discharge in patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Methods:

Stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors with hemiplegia admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward were divided into independent and dependent walking groups. The PhA of the trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb were evaluated using bioelectrical impedance analysis and compared between the independent and dependent walking groups. Friedman's test was performed to analyze differences in the PhA of the trunk, affected limb, and unaffected limb within each group; significant differences were further evaluated by Scheffe's paired comparison test between each segment. In addition, multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between walking ability and segmental PhAs included the independent variables were age, Brunnstrom recovery stage, and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as covariates.

Results:

We enrolled 47 patients (independent walking group: n = 12; dependent walking group: n = 35). Group comparisons revealed that the dependent walking group had a significantly lower PhA in the trunk (P = 0.009), affected limb (P = 0.003), and unaffected limb (P = 0.017) than the independent walking group. The segmental PhA was found to be higher in the trunk than in the affected (P = 0.044) and unaffected limbs (P = 0.008) in the walking independence group, and lower in the affected limb than in the trunk (P 0.001) and unaffected limb (P = 0.003) in the dependent walking group. Only the PhA of the trunk at admission was significantly associated with walking ability at discharge (β = 0.367, P = 0.002).

Conclusion(s):

The trunk PhA at admission may be related to walking ability at discharge in patients undergoing stroke and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.

Implications:

It may be important to consider walking ability in patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury, focusing on the segmental PhA at admission to a Convalescent Rehabilitation Ward.

Funding acknowledgements:
Not funded.
Keywords:
Neurology
Walking ability
Phase angle
Primary topic:
Neurology
Second topic:
Neurology: stroke
Third topic:
Older people
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
The Ethics Committee of Izumisano Yujinkai Hospital
Provide the ethics approval number:
R4-0001
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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