Non-paretic lower limb muscle wasting during acute phase is associated with dependent ambulation in patients with stroke

Abstract Background Muscle wasting in patients with stroke is a factor for a poor functional outcome. However, there have been few studies on the relationships between lower limb muscle wasting during the acute phase and dependent ambulation. This study examined whether lower limb muscle wasting during the acute phase is associated with the dependent ambulation status at 3 months after stroke. Methods In this observational cohort study, we measured the quadriceps muscle thickness in the paretic and non-paretic limbs within 1 and 3 weeks after admission using ultrasonography in non-ambulatory patients with acute stroke. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their ambulation ability: dependent, functional ambulation category (FAC) 0–3 and independent, FAC 4–5) at 3 months after stroke. Results In total, 55 patients were included and completed follow-up, and 28 patients (51%) had an ambulation status of dependent at 3 months after stroke. Significant differences in muscle wasting were observed in the non-paretic limb (−5.5% [8.7%] : −16.8% [13.6%], independent group: dependent group, respectively, P  Conclusion Post-stroke muscle wasting in the non-paretic lower limb during the acute phase is independently associated with dependent ambulation after stroke.