Bilateral early activity in the hip flexors associated with Falls in Stroke Survivors: Preliminary evidence from laboratory-induced falls

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the US with an additional 800,000 incidents occurring each year (CDC, 2012). Falls present a major risk for stroke survivors, 40% of whom experience a serious fall within their first year (Persson et al., 2011). Up to 69% of falls by stroke survivors result in injuries. Despite the importance of the problem, there is surprisingly little information about what factors contribute to falls in stroke survivors. With few exceptions, the literature has focused on relating metrics of post-stroke static balance (where stepping did not occur) and impairment (clinical scores) to fall outcomes in the acute care setting or in the community (Divani et al., 2011; Ikai et al., 2003; Marigold et al., 2004; Marigold and Eng, 2006; Persson et al., 2011; Weerdesteyn et al., 2008).

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