Introduction: It has been challenging to establish a prognostic tool in the acute period following stroke to predict gait outcomes. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between trunk control and other early functional prognostic measures with equilibrium and the capacity to ambulate at six months following acute stroke.
Methods: Sixty-eight patients with stoke admitted consecutively to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit were followed prospectively. At one and two weeks following admission, the following data were collected: sex, age, type of stroke, urinary incontinence, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Trunk Control Test (TCT). At six months following acute stroke, balance was assessed with the Berg Balance score, baropodometry, and computerized posturography as well as gait capacity (measured as velocity and gait ability and limits)
Results: This study found a significant correlation between age, sex, urinary incontinence, TCT and NIHSS at one and two weeks from onset of stroke and the results of equilibrium and gait capacity at six months (p<0.05). When the TCT is <37 in the second week following acute stroke, the Berg Balance score was found to be lower, and with worse gait characteristics (<0.001). The TCT score in the second week is predictive of the achieving functional gait at the six month endpoint (area beneath the curve 0.920).
Conclusions: The TCT is a simple and quick test which may be considered as an early prognostic indicator for functional motor endpoints in the patient with stroke.