Frontal plane compensatory strategies associated with self-selected walking speed in individuals post-stroke

Background

Approximately two out of three individuals post-stroke experience walking impairments. Frontal plane compensatory strategies (i.e. pelvic hiking and circumduction) are observed in post-stroke gait in part to achieve foot clearance in response to reduced knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-selected walking speed and the kinematic patterns related to paretic foot clearance during post-stroke walking.

Methods

Gait analysis was performed at self-selected walking speed for 21 individuals post-stroke. Four kinematic variables were calculated during the swing phase of the paretic limb: peak pelvic tilt (pelvic hiking), peak hip abduction (circumduction), peak knee flexion, and peak ankle dorsiflexion. Paretic joint angles were analyzed across self-selected walking speed as well as between functionally relevant ambulation categories (Household < 0.4 m/s, Limited Community 0.4–0.8 m/s, Community > 0.8 m/s).

Findings

While all subjects exhibited similar foot clearance, slower walkers exhibited greater peak pelvic hiking and less knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and circumduction compared to faster walkers (P < .05). Additionally, four of the fastest walkers compensated for poor knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion through large amounts of circumduction.

Interpretation

These findings suggest that improved gait performance after stroke, as measured by self-selected walking speed, is not necessarily always accomplished through gait patterns that more closely resemble healthy gait for all variables. It appears the ability to walk fast is achieved by either sufficient ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion to achieve foot clearance or the employment of circumduction to overcome a deficit in either ankle dorsiflexion or knee flexion.     

Hemiplegic gait of stroke patients: the effect of using a cane.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of cane use on the hemiplegic gait of stroke patients, focusing on the temporal, spatial, and kinematic variables. DESIGN: Case-control study comparing the effect of walking with and without a cane using a six-camera computerized motion analysis system. SETTING: Stroke clinic of a tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen ambulatory stroke patients were analyzed, including 10 men and 5 women (mean age, 56.9 years; mean time since stroke, 9.8 weeks). Nine age-matched healthy elderly subjects were recruited as a control group. RESULTS: Stroke patients walking with a cane showed significantly increased stride period, stride length, and affected side step length, as well as decreased cadence and step width (p < .05) in comparison with those who walked without a cane. There were no significant differences in the gait phases and the five gait events of hemiplegic gait walking with or without a cane. Cane use thus may have more effect on spatial variables than on temporal variables. The affected-side kinematics of hemiplegic gait with a cane showed increased pelvic obliquity, hip abduction, and ankle eversion during terminal stance phase; increased hip extension, knee extension, and ankle plantar-flexion during preswing phase; and increased hip adduction, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion during swing phase as compared with hemiplegic gait without a cane. A cane thus improved the hemiplegic gait by assisting the affected limb to smoothly shift the center of body mass toward the sound limb and to enhance push off during preswing phase. It also improved circumduction gait during swing phase. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients walking with a cane demonstrated more normal spatial variables and joint motion than did those without a cane.     

Influence of rotators on the kinematic adaptations in stubby prosthetic gait

We report on the results of gait analysis in a patient with bilateral knee disarticulation amputations who used short nonarticulated prosthetic limbs (stubbies) to meet his ambulation needs over an extended period. To compensate for the loss of knee and ankle articulations, exaggerated pelvic obliquity (hip hiking), transverse pelvic rotation, and hip abduction were needed to ensure limb clearance and a functional step length. The addition of rotators to the prostheses improved gait velocity and reduced the perceived exertion of walking by favorably altering center of mass energetics.     

The Influence of Applying Additional Weight to the Affected Leg on Gait Patterns During Aquatic Treadmill Walking in People Poststroke

Jung T, Lee D, Charalambous C, Vrongistinos K. The influence of applying additional weight to the affected leg on gait patterns during aquatic treadmill walking in people poststroke.

Objective

To investigate how the application of additional weights to the affected leg influences gait patterns of people poststroke during aquatic treadmill walking.

Design

Comparative gait analysis.

Setting

University-based aquatic therapy center.

Participants

Community-dwelling volunteers (n=22) with chronic hemiparesis caused by stroke.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters.

Results

The use of an ankle weight showed an increase in the stance phase percentage of gait cycle (3%, P=.015) when compared with no weight. However, the difference was not significant after a Bonferroni adjustment was applied for a more stringent statistical analysis. No significant differences were found in cadence and stride length. The use of an ankle weight showed a significant decrease of the peak hip flexion (7.9%, P=.001) of the affected limb as compared with no weight condition. This decrease was marked as the reduction of unwanted limb flotation because people poststroke typically show excessive hip flexion of the paretic leg in the late swing phase followed by fluctuating hip movements during aquatic treadmill walking. The frontal and transverse plane hip motions did not show any significant differences but displayed a trend of a decrease in the peak hip abduction during the swing phase with additional weights. The use of additional weight did not alter sagittal plane kinematics of the knee and ankle joints.

Conclusions

The use of applied weight on the affected limb can reduce unwanted limb flotation on the paretic side during aquatic treadmill walking. It can also assist the stance stability by increasing the stance phase percentage closer to 60% of gait cycle. Both findings can contribute to the development of more efficient motor patterns in gait training for people poststroke. The use of a cuff weight does not seem to reduce the limb circumduction during aquatic treadmill walking.     

Gait performance with compensatory adaptations in stroke patients with different degrees of motor recovery

OBJECTIVE: Gait patterns vary among stroke patients. This study attempted to discover gait performance with compensatory adaptations in stroke patients with different degrees of motor recovery. DESIGN: Data were gathered from 35 stroke patients and 15 healthy subjects. Gait performance and motor recovery were assessed 6 mos after stroke. Stroke patients further were divided into poor and good groups. The walking velocity was correlated with Brunnstr?m's stages, and the temporal stride and motion variables of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Walking velocity was positively correlated with the Brunnstr?m's stages of the proximal lower limb. The poor group displayed slower walking velocity and shorter single-support time compared with the good group. Both groups displayed low maximum excursion of hip extension and ankle plantarflexion during the stance phase and low maximum excursion of hip and knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion during the swing phase. Moreover, both groups displayed excessive pelvic tilts during the stance and swing phases. However, the poor group displayed different pelvic motion and timing sequences to each peak joint angle from normal subjects and the good group. Peak hip and knee angles of the affected limb during the stance phase occurred almost simultaneously in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Selective control of the proximal lower limb may be the main determinant of walking velocity. The compensatory adaptations were similar, except for pelvic motion, in stroke patients with different levels of motor recovery, whereas the poor group walked with synergistic mass patterns and reduced stability.     

Effects of elastic neutral ankle-foot orthoses on 3 dimensional parameters during gait training in patients with stroke: A pilot study

BackgroundGeneral ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) cannot be flexibly adjusted to volumetric change in the lower leg because the molding is custom-fit. Thus, we developed a flexible assistive device called elastic neutral AFO (EN-AFO) to help stroke patients hold a neutral ankle position. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of EN-AFO and improve gait patterns in stroke patients with rearfoot varus deformity.MethodsFifteen stroke patients with a varus deformity of the foot performed a walking test with and without the use of EN-AFO. Kinematic data were measured with a 3D motion analysis system with inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors.ResultsIn the stance phase, maximal pelvic tilt and maximal ankle dorsiflexion in the affected side changed, and maximal and minimal pelvic tilts and maximal hip abduction in the less-affected limb effectively changed, as well. During the swing phase, minimal pelvic tilt and minimal ankle abduction in the affective limb greatly changed; particularly, the reduction of maximal ankle inversion was significantly cleared.ConclusionsThe EN-AFO was effective in controlling the tendency of foot inversion in patients with varus deformities. This is suitable for gait training, as it can adjust the orthosis stiffness according to the foot condition.     

Preliminary kinematic evaluation of a new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis

BACKGROUND: Stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthoses permit free knee motion in swing while providing knee flexion resistance in stance for individuals with quadriceps muscle weakness. However, some stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthoses require full knee extension to engage the knee-joint lock, thereby not providing knee support when climbing stairs or stepping over curbs. Stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthoses that do support a flexed knee are either heavy, bulky, expensive, offer a limited number of locking positions, or cause noise. This paper presents a preliminary kinematic evaluation of a new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis that was designed to address these limitations. METHODS: Kinematic gait analysis was performed on three male knee-ankle-foot-orthosis users with knee extensor weakness in at least one limb (mean age: 56.3 years (SD 4.0)). Three walking trials were performed with the subjects' current knee-ankle-foot-orthosis and then the new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis (non-randomized before-after trial). Subjects completed a questionnaire about the new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis and current knee-ankle-foot-orthosis. FINDINGS: A mean increase in knee flexion of 21.1 degrees (SD 8.2) during swing and a greater total knee range of motion was found when walking with the new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis. Two knee-ankle-foot-orthosis users experienced a reduction in pelvic obliquity and hip abduction angle abnormalities when walking with the stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis. Two out of three subjects preferred walking with the new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis over their prescribed knee-ankle-foot-orthosis. INTERPRETATION: The new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis permitted improved gait kinematics for knee-ankle-foot-orthosis users while providing knee support in stance and free knee motion in swing at appropriate instants in the gait cycle. Overall, the new stance-control knee-ankle-foot orthosis provided more natural gait kinematics for orthosis users compared to conventional knee-ankle-foot-orthoses.     

A preliminary investigation of pelvic obliquity patterns during gait in persons with transtibial and transfemoral amputation

Differences in pelvic obliquity between small groups of persons with unilateral lower limb amputation and subjects without amputation were analyzed. Kinematic walking data were collected as six males with transtibial amputation and three males with transfemoral amputation walked over a range of speeds. The pelvic obliquity patterns and amplitudes from the groups with amputation were compared to normal data. Results showed that smaller peak-to-peak amplitudes of pelvic obliquity were associated with higher amputation levels. Pelvic drop during early prosthetic-limb stance tended to be smaller than during early sound-limb stance. Most of the subjects with amputation exhibited an obliquity pattern in which the hip on the prosthetic side was raised above the stance-side hip during prosthetic swing phase, indicative of a compensatory action known as hip-hiking. The subjects with transfemoral amputation exhibited this hip-hiking pattern during sound-limb swing phase as well. Results from this study suggest that further investigation is required to determine those limitations of current prosthetic technology that adversely affect pelvic obliquity in the gait of persons with amputation, and to determine if significant benefit can be realized by restoring a normal pattern of pelvic obliquity to the gait of persons with amputation.     

反复促通疗法对痉挛型偏瘫脑瘫儿童步行功能的影响

目的:探讨反复促通疗法对痉挛型偏瘫脑性瘫痪(SHCP)儿童步行功能的影响。方法:选取SHCP儿童40例，随机分为2组各20例。对照组每天给予常规康复训练60min,观察组每天给予反复促通疗法训练60min,共4周。训练前后采用10m步行测试(10MWT)评价步行速度，三维步态分析系统评价患侧下肢处于支撑中期和摆动中期时髋、膝、踝关节角度以及处于足跟着地期时踝关节角度。结果:训练后2组自选步行速度(SWS)和最快步行速度(MWS)均较治疗前显著增加(P<0.01),且观察组显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。训练后患侧下肢处于支撑中期时与训练前比较，2组患侧髋关节屈曲角度明显降低(P<0.05),患侧膝关节屈曲角度明显增加(P<0.05),患侧踝关节背屈角度明显增加(P<0.05),且观察组各项改善程度均优于对照组(P<0.05);训练后患侧下肢处于摆动中期时与训练前比较，2组患侧髋、膝关节屈曲角度明显增加(P<0.05),且观察组改善程度均优于对照组(P<0.05);训练后患侧下肢处于摆动中期时观察组患侧踝关节背屈角度较训练前及对照组明显增加...     

脑卒中偏瘫患者康复治疗前后的三维步态分析

目的分析脑卒中偏瘫患者康复治疗前后的三维步态特点。方法采用三维步态分析仪对28 例脑卒中偏瘫患者6 周的常规康复训练前后分别进行三维步态分析检查。结果治疗后患侧下肢站立相百分比较前增加(P<0.05),摆动相百分比较前减少(P<0.05),较前接近正常值;患侧下肢的步长、跨步长,步速均较前增加(P<0.05);患者髋关节内收外展、屈曲伸展,膝关节屈曲伸展,踝关节内外旋转、内翻外翻、背屈跖屈均较前改善(P<0.05)。结论三维步态分析系统能定量地评价患者的步态情况,可作为康复疗效评定的指标之一。     

Pelvic and lower limb compensatory actions of subjects in an early stage of hip osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To determine if compensatory actions take place at the pelvis and other joints of the affected lower limb in subjects who were in an early stage of hip osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: Nonrandomized, case-control study. SETTING: A gait laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen patients with OA of the hip (clinical group) matched with 17 healthy elderly subjects (nonclinical group). INTERVENTIONS: Video data obtained while subjects walked a 10-meter walkway twice and stepped across a forceplate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Four phasic and temporal gait parameters (walking speed, stance phase relative duration, stride length, cadence) 10 pelvic (pelvic tilt, obliquity, rotation at push-off maximum range of motion for all 3) and hip (3 hip angles at push-off, maximum hip flexion) kinematic parameters, 3 hip moments, and twenty-seven 3-dimensional peak muscle powers (labeled by joint, peak power, plane) developed in the lower limb joints during the gait cycle. RESULTS: Subjects in the clinical group were characterized by a 12.4% slower walking speed. The pelvis was more upwardly tilted (2.5 times) at push-off in the clinical group than in the nonclinical group. Obliquity, measured in the frontal plane, revealed that the pelvis dropped more (2.4 times) on the unsupported limb of the clinical group at push-off. In the sagittal plane, subjects in the clinical group absorbed less energy in their second hip peak power for decelerating the thigh extension and generated less hip pull (third hip peak power) than the nonclinical group by 34% and 29%, respectively. In the sagittal plane, the clinical group had 57% lower second knee peak power to straighten the joint shortly after heel strike, and 43% less knee absorption (third peak power) at push-off. During the push-off phase, the clinical group developed more than twice their third peak knee power in the frontal plane and 5 times more their third peak knee power in the transversal plane than the peak knee power of the nonclinical group in an attempt to control knee adduction and to facilitate body-weight transfer by an internal rotation. At the end of the swing phase, the fourth peak power in the sagittal plane showed the absorption power required to decelerate the leg; it was reduced by 35% in the clinical group, representing a strategy to increase walking speed by lengthening the stride length. CONCLUSIONS: Even at an early stage of hip OA, joint degeneration was compensated by an increase in pelvis motion and muscle power generation or absorption modifications in other lower limb joints.     

The influence of mechanically and physiologically imposed stiff-knee gait patterns on the energy cost of walking

Lewek MD, Osborn AJ, Wutzke CJ. The influence of mechanically and physiologically imposed stiff-knee gait patterns on the energy cost of walking.ObjectiveTo investigate the relative roles of mechanically imposed and physiologically imposed stiff-knee gait (SKG) patterns on energy cost.DesignRepeated-measures, within-subjects design.SettingResearch laboratory.ParticipantsIndividuals (N=20) without musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, or cardiorespiratory limitations.InterventionsParticipants walked on an instrumented treadmill at their self-selected overground gait speed for 3 randomly ordered conditions: (1) control, (2) mechanically imposed stiff-knee gait (SKG-M) using a lockable knee brace, and (3) physiologically imposed stiff-knee gait (SKG-P) using electrical stimulation to the quadriceps. Each condition was performed with 0% and 20% body weight support. Indirect calorimetry determined net metabolic power, and motion capture measured lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics.Main Outcome MeasuresNet metabolic power, knee flexion angle, circumduction, hip hiking, and hip flexion and ankle plantarflexion moments.ResultsParticipants walked at 1.25±.09m/s. Net metabolic power was significantly increased by 17% in SKG-M and 37% in SKG-P compared with control (mean increase: .66±.60W/kg for SKG-M; 1.39±.79W/kg for SKG-P; both P<.001). Furthermore, SKG-P required greater net metabolic power than SKG-M (P<.001). Simulated SKG was associated with increased circumduction and hip hiking. Despite no change in ankle plantarflexion moments (P=.280), the hip flexion moment was increased during SKG-P (.43±.15Nm/kg·m) compared with control (.31±.08Nm/kg·m; P<.001).ConclusionsThe increase in energy cost associated with simulated SKG was due in part to abnormal mechanical compensations, and in part to an increase in quadriceps activity. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the increase in quadriceps activity will enable a reduction in the energy cost of walking with SKG.     

Gait abnormalities in hemiplegia: their correction by ankle-foot orthoses

Hemiparetic gait is characterized by slow speed and poorly coordinated movements. Because the values of gait parameters vary with changes in speed, the slow speed that is typical of hemiparetic gait necessitates applying controls for the influence of speed when comparing hemiparetic and able-bodied persons. Gait kinetics and kinematics were measured in seven hemiparetic and seven able-bodied adults to compare their gait patterns at similar speeds and to assess the effectiveness of ankle-foot orthoses which were double-stopped in 5 degrees of dorsiflexion or 5 degrees of plantarflexion. Hemiparetic persons ambulating without the orthoses had a shorter step length, longer duration stance, and shorter duration swing than normal. They displayed greater than normal flexion of the affected hip during midstance, which, by putting the center of mass farther in front of the knee, may explain the increased knee extension moment due to vertical force. Affected hip adduction during single support was less in hemiparetic persons than in able-bodied persons, indicating a decreased lateral shift to the paretic side. During the swing phase, the affected limbs of hemiparetic persons were in less knee flexion and less dorsiflexion than normal, necessitating circumduction to achieve toe clearance. Ankle-foot orthoses increased walking speed to normalize heelstrike duration through use of an optimally adjusted plantarflexion stop. An improperly adjusted orthosis may produce an exaggerated knee flexion moment resulting in knee instability.     

Kinematic effects of different gait speeds during gait initiation movement

[Purpose] We investigated the influence of gait speed on the movement strategy during gait initiation. [Participants and Methods] This study included 21 young healthy individuals (11 males and 10 females; mean age, 21.7 ± 0.5 years; mean height, 166.1 ± 9.8 cm; and mean weight, 57.3 ± 11.2 kg). A three-dimensional motion analyzer and strain gauge force platform were used in this study. The measurement task consisted of gait initiation from the quiet stance; the two measurement conditions were normal gait and the highest speed. The analysis interval was from the start of the center of pressure migration to the heel contact at the first step of the swing limb. The center of gravity, center of pressure, joint movements, step length, and step time during the anticipatory postural control (from the start of center of pressure migration to swing leg-heel off) and swing (swing leg-heel off to swing leg-heel contact) phases were analyzed. [Results] Significant differences were observed in the center of gravity, center of pressure, hip flexion, abduction movement, stance-limb ankle dorsiflexion movement during the anticipatory postural control phase, and step time during the anticipatory postural control and swing phases. The stance-limb ankle plantar flexion movement and step length did not differ significantly in the swing phase. [Conclusion] When the gait speed increases, fluctuations in the joint movements increase as the center of pressure displacement increases, thus requiring complex control.     

Stimulation parameter optimization for functional electrical stimulation assisted gait in human spinal cord injury using response surface methodology

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to identify the reflex moment induced by flexion withdrawal reflex and to optimize stimulation parameters for restoring swing motion with respect to initial kinematic conditions in human with spinal cord injury. METHODS: The influence of hip position and passive movement in the reflex moment were tested in six subjects with chronic spinal cord injury. The two-dimensional dynamic models consisted of thigh, shank and foot segments were developed to compute the swing-phase response and the response surface method was also used to optimize stimulation parameters for restoration of gait by functional electrical stimulation. FINDINGS: At three different hip positions, significant linear relationship was found between the reflex moment and hip angle (P < 0.05) and hip movement also increased the reflex moment compare to isometric conditions. The hip and knee flexion velocities significantly contributed to the hip and knee flexion angle during the swing-phase (P < 0.05) and increase of initial joint velocity resulted in a decrease of the burst frequency and duration time for optimal swing motion in spinal cord injured patients. INTERPRETATION: From dynamic simulation, we concluded that optimal solutions of pulse amplitude, frequency and duration time of burst for electrical stimulation assisted gait were influenced by initial kinematic conditions at toe-off. The reflex model and the results of this study can be applied to the design and control strategies of neuroprosthetic devices using functional electrical stimulation for spinal cord injured patients.     

Changes in plantar pressure,contact area and contact time symmetry during the gait 4 weeks before and 12 and 24 weeks after unilateral total hip arthroplasty

BackgroundFoot to ground pressure changes in total hip arthroplasty patients' gait are not widely described, although they are sensitive to gait abnormalities and the distribution of plantar pressures may differ before and after the surgery. This study aimed to analyse longitudinally differences in plantar pressure during gait in total hip arthroplasty patients compared to healthy controls.MethodsEighteen males participated in this study. Eight males, who underwent unilateral total hip arthroplasty, participated at the data collection three times: 4 weeks before the surgery, 12 and 24 weeks after, and ten healthy controls. All participants were asked to walk over Emed platform. To compare differences between the affected and unaffected limbs, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the difference between total hip arthroplasty patients and healthy controls.FindingsStatistically significant differences between the affected and unaffected limb were observed only during the preoperative measurement in peak pressure at MH4 area and in the contact area at MH4 and big toe. When comparing total hip arthroplasty patients and controls, a difference in the contact time at MH2, MH3 and MH4 areas 12 weeks after surgery and at MH2 and MH4 24 weeks after the surgery were observed.InterpretationThe shorter contact time at forefoot areas may indicate an alteration in the propulsive phase of the gait of both the affected limb and unaffected limb in total hip arthroplasty patients as a result of decreased terminal hip extension during the stance phase described in previous studies.     

偏瘫步态髋关节角度研究

目的分析偏瘫患者步态的髋关节角度特征。方法对20例偏瘫患者和年龄、身高、体重匹配的20例正常人进行步态分析,分析其髋关节特征。结果偏瘫患者患侧髋关节首次着地时刻、站立相最大伸展角度、足尖离地时关节角度、迈步相最大屈曲角度、矢状面膝关节角度范围与正常人的差异存在显著性意义。结论研究偏瘫步态髋关节特征可协助进行临床评价及制定针对性步态矫正方案。     

Gait with and without forearm crutches in patients with total hip arthroplasty

There is considerable variation between centres in the use of forearm crutches in the rehabilitation of patients with total hip arthroplasty who are capable of full weight bearing. This study aimed to compare the gait of patients with total hip arthroplasty walking with and without crutches. The gait analysis in 19 patients included the assessment of kinematics, kinetics and the kinesiological electromyographic activity of lower limb and trunk muscles. With the forearm crutches patients walked with a reduced cadence, a longer stride length and more symmetrically (P < 0.05). The activity of the gluteus medius, vastus medialis and lateralis, and erector spinae muscles of the affected and of the vastus medialis muscle of the unaffected side decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Furthermore, seven subjects displayed an abnormal activation pattern of the affected hip abductor when walking with forearm crutches, characterized by a second burst during swing (n = 5) or a tonic pattern (n = 2). It is concluded that the use of forearm crutches resulted in a symmetrical gait pattern. The reduced activity of relevant pelvi-trochanteric muscles and the disturbed activation pattern of the affected hip abductor when walking with crutches might indicate that patients should walk unaided as soon as possible to provide a more efficient muscular training under dynamic conditions.     

Effects of increasing non-paretic step length on paretic leg movement during hemiparetic gait: a pilot study

[Purpose] Gait training that increases non-paretic step length in stroke patients increases the propulsive force of the paretic leg. However, it limits knee flexion during the swing phase of gait, and this may cause gait disturbances such as worsening of gait pattern and increased risk of falling. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of increasing non-paretic step length on the joint movement and muscle activity of a paretic lower limb during hemiparetic gait. [Participants and Methods] A total of 15 hemiparetic patients with chronic stroke were enrolled in this study. Spatiotemporal parameters, along with kinematic and electromyography data of their paretic lower limbs, were measured during a 10-m distance overground walking. Two walking conditions were assessed: normal (comfortable gait) and non-paretic-long (gait with increased non-paretic step length) conditions. [Results] Under the non-paretic-long condition, the trailing limb angle was larger than under the normal condition. However, no significant difference was observed in the knee flexion angle during the swing phase. [Conclusion] Increasing non-paretic step length during gait is unlikely to limit knee flexion during the swing phase and can safely improve the propulsive force of a paretic leg.