Determinants of maximum walking speed in hemiparetic stroke patients.

The time necessary to walk 10 m with the fastest speed, the sway path of the center of feet pressure in station, and the isokinetic strength for knee extension of each side were examined in 29 hemiparetic stroke patients. The maximum walking speed of the patients was related to the sway path and the isokinetic muscle strength of affected side. The patients could be divided into two groups based on their sway path. The determinants of the maximum walking speed in the unstable group were the sway path and the isokinetic muscle strength of the both sides, whereas that in the stable group was only the isokinetic muscle strength of affected side.