Grant: CIHR New Investigator

Although many people who had a stroke can get better and walk again, there are still problems with walking that limit their ability to fully take part in many daily activities. Up to now, stroke researchers have usually tested walking by asking people to walk forwards in a straight line. However, in everyday life people must constantly change their direction or turn while walking. The ability to turn is important to make sure that people are able to walk around safely and easily in their homes as well as outside in their communities. In addition, turning also poses a greater risk of falling compared with walking straight ahead. Despite these facts, there is very little research about turning and walking in people with stroke. Thus the overall objectives of this research are to understand how difficulties in walking affect turning in people with stroke. We will use recordings of muscle activity and leg movements during walking to analyze the differences in turning strategies in people with stroke compared with people who have not had a stroke. We will also study the extent to which different rehabilitation therapies for improving walking also help to improve turning ability in people who have had a stroke. The results from this research will help us develop better testing tools and training strategies for therapists to use as they work to help people who have had a stroke walk as well as possible. Ultimately, better walking ability will help promote healthier and more active lifestyles for people who have had a stroke.