Characterizing and Identifying Risk for Falls in the LEAPS Study A Randomized Clinical Trial of Interventions to Improve Walking Poststroke

Background and Purpose—Better understanding of fall risk poststroke is required for developing screening and prevention programs. This study characterizes falls in the Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS) randomized clinical trial, describes the impact of 2 walking recovery interventions on falls, and examines the value of clinical assessments for predicting falls. Methods—Community-dwelling ambulatory stroke survivors enrolled in LEAPS were assessed 2 months poststroke. Falls were monitored until 12 months poststroke and participants were characterized as multiple or injurious (M/I); single, noninjurious; or nonfallers. Incidence and time to M/I falls were compared across interventions (home exercise and locomotor training initiated 2 months [early-LTP] or 6 months [late-LTP] poststroke). Predictive value of 2-month clinical assessments for falls outcome was assessed. Results—Among the 408 participants, 36.0% were M/I, 21.6% were single, noninjurious, and 42.4% were nonfallers. Most falls occ...