Symmetry in vertical ground reaction force is accompanied by symmetry in temporal but not distance variables of gait in persons with stroke.

The purpose of this study was to (1) determine whether symmetry in temporal-distance (T-D) measures is accompanied by symmetry in kinetic measures during self-paced gait and (2) evaluate the effect of symmetry on gait speed in individuals with chronic stroke. A symmetry index was calculated for stance time, swing time, step length and vertical ground reaction force (GRF) for 28 individuals with stroke (age: 62.5+/-8.2 years). Spearman correlation revealed that (a) gait speed was correlated with the symmetry of temporal measures and GRF and (b) symmetry in GRF was correlated with symmetry in temporal but not distance measures of gait (P<0.05). The results provide support for promoting temporal and kinetic symmetry in the gait of persons with stroke.