Background: The cut-off values of walking velocity and classification of functional mobility both have a role in clinical settings for assessing the walking function of stroke patients and setting rehabilitation goals and treatment plans. Objective: The present study investigated whether the cut-off values of the modified Rivermead Mobility Index (mRMI) and walking velocity accurately differentiated the walking ability of stroke patients according to the modified Functional Ambulation Category (mFAC). Methods: Eighty two chronic stroke patients were included in the study. The comfortable/maximum walking velocities and mRMI were used to measure the mobility outcomes of these patients. To compare the walking velocities and mRMI scores for each mFAC point, one-way analysis of variance and the post-hoc test using Scheffe’s method were performed. The patients were categorized according to gait ability into either [Formula: see text] or mFAC[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]VI group. The cut-off values for mRMI and walking velocities were calculated using a receiver-operating characteristic curve. The odds ratios of logistic regression analysis (Wald Forward) were analyzed to examine whether the cut-off values of walking velocity and mRMI can be utilized to differentiate functional walking levels. Results: Except for mFACs III and IV, maximum walking velocity differed between mFAC IV and mFAC V [Formula: see text], between mFAC V and mFAC VI [Formula: see text], and between mFAC VI and mFAC VII [Formula: see text]. The cut-off value of mRMI is [Formula: see text] and the area under the curve is 0.87, respectively; the cut-off value for comfortable walking velocity is [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m/s and the area under the curve is 0.92, respectively; also, the cut-off value for maximum walking velocity is [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m/s and the area under the curve is 0.97, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis, the maximum walking velocity [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m/s, [Formula: see text] and mRMI [Formula: see text] scores, [Formula: see text] are able to distinguish [Formula: see text] from mFAC[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]VI. Conclusion: The cut-off values of maximum walking velocity and mRMI are recommended as useful outcome measures for assessing ambulation levels in chronic stroke patients during rehabilitation.
Walking velocity and modified rivermead mobility index as discriminatory measures for functional ambulation classification of chronic stroke patients
