Abstract of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School
 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
 Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

 IMPACT OF POST-STROKE MOBILITY ON ACTIVITY AND
 PARTICIPATION


 By

 Arlene Ann Schmid

 August 2005

Chair: Pamela W. Duncan
Major Department: Rehabilitation Science

 Post-stroke individuals often experience residual mobility impairments, reflected in

decreased gait speed, increased falls, and the possible development of fear of falling. This

research utilized two secondary analyses to explore the impact of post-stroke gait velocity

and fear of falling on activity and participation.

 The first study examined clinically meaningful changes in gait velocity in 64 post-

stroke individuals. Velocity was measured at baseline and three months and was placed

into a three tier ambulation classification. T-tests determined a difference in functional

ability (activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs),

mobility, and social participation) between those who did and did not successfully

advance to the next ambulation classification. After stratifying by baseline gait velocity

and controlling for age, those most severely impaired at baseline, and who advanced

classifications, demonstrated significant differences in all measured functional abilities.

In comparison, those moderately impaired only demonstrated significant differences in