focal areas of the brain" [160]. It has been classified as the most disabling chronic disease

with deleterious consequences for individuals, families, and society [5, 6].

 Because age is a known risk factor for stroke, stroke incidence is expected to

increase as the population ages. Stroke prevalence is expected to increases as stroke

survival rates continue to increase [161, 162]. The majority of stroke survivors will be

discharged from the acute care setting and will return home with mild or moderate

physical, cognitive, or emotional deficits [78]. For example, in the Department of

Veterans' Affairs, 72% of all stroke survivors were discharged home into the community

in 1999 [163].

Gait Velocity After Stroke

 Mobility impairment, such as decreased gait velocity has been related to stroke

related outcomes. Perry and colleagues assessed the relationship between gait speed and

mobility in participants 3 months post-stroke [9]. Six ambulation categories were

developed, each was related to post-stroke mobility and ambulation in and out of the

home (borrowed from Hoffer et al. who utilized a four step walking handicap scale for

children [164]). See Table 2-2 for the six ambulation categories.

 Perry et al. used five clinical measures to place post-stroke participants into one of

the six categories. The measures included: a walking ability questionnaire, stride

characteristics including gait speed, upright motor control testing, and proprioception.

Many analyses were completed, and the difference in gait velocity demonstrated the

greatest statistical significance between categories. Discriminate analyses were

completed and identified gait velocity as the only clinical measure to significantly predict

placement into the categories. Those considered as physiological walkers had a mean