2.2. Participants
respiratory disease, Anterior circulation stroke, dysarthria, lower limb motor deficits, hemiplegic limb ≥ grade IV, seizures, cognitive impairment, stroke, tremor, nystagmus, ataxia, musculoskeletal problems, upper motor neuron damage, lower limb motor dysfunction, depression, cerebral infarction
RESPIRATORY DISEASE, STROKE, AIDS, NYSTAGMUS, REDUCED FACIAL EXPRESSION, OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, CEREBRAL INFARCTION
We prospectively recruited patients with lower limb motor dysfunction after the first stroke diagnosis (including neuroimaging) in the rehabilitation department of our hospital. Anterior circulation stroke can result in highly variable lower limb motor deficits in terms of lesion side, site, type, number, extension, duration, and severity. To address this potential variability, we carefully selected a clinically homogeneous sample for our study. Inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) age ≥ 40 years and ≤80 years; (2) cerebral infarction in the anterior cerebral circulation region with a duration of 2 weeks-8 weeks; (3) able to live independently after stroke onset (modified Rankin score ≤ 3); (4) lower limb muscle strength of the hemiplegic limb ≥ grade IV; (5) informed consent signed by the patient and his family; (6) able to participate in late follow-up assessments; and (7) able to stand for 5 min without assistance, to walk independently for 5 min without gait aids, and cooperate with the completion of the gait assessment. Exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) history of seizures, pacemaker implantation, intracranial metal implants, and increased intracranial pressure; (2) ataxia of the limb, dysarthria, nystagmus, reduced facial expression, signs of upper motor neuron damage, and resting tremor; (3) presence of other neurological disorders in addition to stroke or other conditions that may affect mobility and assessment protocol musculoskeletal problems; (4) individuals with severe combined circulatory or respiratory disease or other malignant lesions of internal organs or pregnancy; and (5) severe cognitive impairment, depression and unable to cooperate with gait assessment.