Relationships between walking speed, activities and participation in people with chronic stroke in Burundi

• Published in: The South African journal of physiotherapy Vol. 78; no. 1; p. 1800
• Main Authors: Nindorera, Félix, Nduwimana, Ildephonse, Sinzakaraye, Alexis, Bleyenheuft, Yannick, Thonnard, Jean-Louis, Kossi, Oyéné
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS 2022; AOSIS
• Subjects: activity limitations; low-income settings; Original Research; Social aspects; social participation; stroke; Walking; walking speed; Burundi; Sub-Saharan Africa; Burkina Faso
• ISSN: 0379-6175; 2410-8219
• DOI: 10.4102/sajp.v78i1.1800

Background Reduced walking speed because of a stroke may limit activities of daily living (ADLs) and restrict social participation. Objectives To describe the level of balance impairment, activity limitations, and participation restrictions and to investigate their relationship with walking speed in Burundians with chronic stroke. Methods This cross-sectional study involved adult stroke survivors. Walking speed, balance, ADLs and social participation were assessed with the 10-meter walk test (10 mWT), the Berg balance scale (BBS), the activity limitation stroke scale and the participation measurement scale, respectively. In order to determine ambulatory independence status, participants were stratified into three walking speed groups (household ambulation, limited ambulation and full-community ambulation), based on the Perry classification. Results Fifty-eight adults (mean age 52.1 ± 11.4 years) with chronic stroke were included in our study. Most participants had severe balance impairments (median BBS score, 27). Their mean (± standard deviation [SD]) walking speeds, ADL levels and social participation levels were 0.68 ± 0.34 m/s, 50.8% ± 9.3% and 52.8% ± 8.6%, respectively. Walking speed correlated moderately with balance (rho = 0.5, p < 0.001) and strongly with ADL level (r = 0.7, p < 0.001) but not with participation level (r = 0.2, p = 0.25). Conclusion Using socio-culturally suitable tools, our study showed that walking speed correlates robustly with balance and ADL ability, but not with social participation, in Burundi, a low-income country. Clinical implications Exercises targeting walking speed would be very useful for people with chronic stroke living in low-resource countries, in order to promote their functional independence.