What is a common impairment following a stroke?

Following a stroke, individuals often experience motor impairments as the brain's ability to control movement is affected. One common impairment is the inability to recruit ankle plantar flexors, which refers to the difficulty in activating the muscles responsible for pointing the toes and pushing off the ground during walking or standing. This impairment directly results from damage to the areas of the brain that control voluntary movements and muscle activation, leading to weakness or paralysis in the lower limbs.

Strength recruitment issues can significantly impact a person's gait and balance, making rehabilitation strategies focused on improving muscle activation and functional movement patterns essential in stroke recovery. By enhancing the ability to recruit the ankle plantar flexors, patients can improve their stability and mobility, which are critical for daily activities.

While visual perception difficulties and coordination issues can also arise post-stroke, they are not as universally applicable or defining as the loss of ability to recruit specific muscle groups like the ankle plantar flexors.