Gait pattern categorization of stroke participants with equinus deformity of the foot

Following stroke an equinus deformity of the foot may develop, which may affect the gait pattern of patients differently. Subcategorization of gait patterns in these patients would be helpful in developing and delivering more targeted treatment. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to classify the gait patterns of 23 chronic stroke patients with equinus deformity of the foot based on temporal distance parameters and joint kinematic and kinetic measures in the sagittal and coronal planes. Cluster analysis showed that gait patterns were not singularly homogenous and identified three subgroups that contained within group homogenous levels of function. Further analysis identified significant differences between the subgroups in some of the temporal distance and kinematic and kinetic measures examined. The results from this study can be used to categorise patients, facilitating appropriate development of targeted treatment. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.