Journal of Clinical Medicine
Relationship Between Anterior–Posterior Plantar Reaction Force Distribution and Gait Speed in Post-Stroke Patients
By Daiki Naito, Yusuke Sekiguchi, Keita HONDA and 9 others.
Abstract
Background
Gait speed is an important indicator of walking ability in post-stroke patients. Although gait speed is associated with anterior–posterior reaction force (AP RF), how AP RF is distributed across the plantar surface and whether this distribution is associated with gait speed remain unclear.
Methods
Fifteen post-stroke patients and 18 healthy controls were included. AP RF was measured during walking using a sensor shoe system equipped with four triaxial force sensors located at the heel, first metatarsal (MT1), fifth metatarsal (MT5), and toe regions. AP RF distribution was quantified as the relative contribution of each plantar region and compared among the paretic, non-paretic, and control sides across the stance phase using linear mixed-effects models. Associations between AP RF distribution and gait speed were examined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients, with p-values adjusted for multiple testing using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate procedure.