Impact of muscle strength and balance on gait after stroke

Current strength training interventions post-stroke appear to provide limited benefits to improving gait function. One potential reason is the focus on muscle groups that provide small contributions to propulsion during gait. This study aimed to determine the impact of muscle strength and balance on gait after stroke. Strength of the ankle plantarflexor and hip flexor muscle groups provided the largest contribution to gait velocity, and ankle plantarflexor strength had an association with ankle power generation during gait. Balance also had significant relationships with gait velocity, with this relationship independent of strength. Future research may wish to refocus strength assessment and treatment to target the ankle plantarflexors and hip flexors after stroke.