Gait control in hemiparesis.

Findings in gait analysis of patients with spastic hemiparesis are reviewed. The basis of recent analysis has been records of movement combined with EMG from several leg muscles. Though the interindividual variation in movement and muscle activation is large, the abnormal control of gait usually can be related to one of three types of disturbances. These are characterized by (1) exaggerated stretch responses disturbing an otherwise well preserved gait control, (2) abolishment or decrease of the centrally generated patterned muscle activation, or (3) abnormal coactivation of several muscle groups. By using a computer for collection and analysis of data, gait analysis can be used in clinical routine for guidance of therapy and training.