Aim: Few data exist about walking and motility after infratentorial stroke (IS). The aim of this study was to objectively quantify pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation walking and mobility in a group of IS patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation and to determine factors influencing functional outcomes.
Materials and methods: Seventy-two patients with IS were selected on the basis of clinical criteria and computer tomography (CT) images. Mean age was 76.5 +/- 10 (31 men and 41 women). The stroke was ischemic in 55 patients and hemorrhagic in 17 Walking (Lindmark scale), mobility (Rivermead Mobility Index) (RMI) and stroke severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) (NIH) were evaluated in all patients at admission to study and at discharge.
Results: Before rehabilitation 1.4% of patients were independent in walking and 23.7% were over 75th percentile in RMI. After rehabilitation, 80.5% of the patients were able to walk independently and 84.7% were over 75th percentile of mobility. Age, onset to admission interval, and extent of the stroke did non correlate with Lindmark and RIM. Lindmark and RMI were correlated only with NIH. Patients with higher NIH score (NIH+) had significantly worse walking capacity and mobility than patients with lower NIH score (NIH-) before and after rehabilitation. Moreover, in patients NIH+ length of rehabilitation therapy was significantly longer compared to patients NIH-. In addition, patients NIH+ had efficiency in walking and in mobility significantly lower than patients NIH-.
Conclusions: The study shows that: (1) IS patients have a significant functional recovery in walking and mobility after rehabilitation, (2) stroke severity is related with walking and mobility.