背景與目的：在日常活動中，步行速度的適應能力是必要的。本研究探討中風病患的步行速度適
應能力以及其偏癱步態空間—時間步態參數、對稱性、步與步間變異性是否隨步行速度而改變。
方法： 9位單次中風、可不用輔具而獨立行走的病患參與本研究。受試者在舒適速度、快速、及慢速下行走六回。分析並比較受試者在每種步行速度情境下步行速度、空間—時間步態參數、
單腳支撐時間不對稱指數（時間不對稱指數）、步長不對稱性指數（空間不對稱性指數）、以及步與步間空間—時間步態參數的變異性。結果：受試者的快速、舒適、及慢速步行速度分別為 .0
±0.30、0.66±0. 8、0.43±0. 9公尺/秒，且相互間有顯著差異（p<0.0 7）。除了步寬以外，其餘空間—時間步態參數在三種步行速度情境間皆有顯著差異（p<0.0 7）。除了步寬外之所有步態參數的步與步間變異性及左右單腳支撐時間不對稱指數，在慢速步行時皆大於在快速及舒適步行時（p<0.0 7）。結論：輕度到中度中風病患雖有保留部份的步行速度適應能力，但仍受到限制。這些病患能夠藉由調節健側及患側腳的空間—時間步態參數，而達成不同的步行速度。中風病患慢速步行時，其單腳支撐時間不對稱性以及大部分空間—時間步態參數的步與步間變異性皆比在快速及舒適速度步行時為大。依據本研究結果，建議中風病患以舒適速度及快速進行步行練習，而非在小心謹慎的慢速下練習，以加強其步行速度適應能力、對稱性、以及步與步間穩定性。

Purpose: Walking speed adaptability is essential in activities of daily living. We investigated walking speed adaptability and walking speed associated changes in spatiotemporal characteristics of gait parameters, symmetry, and stride-to-stride variability in hemiplegic gait of
stroke patients. Methods: Nineteen patients following a single onset of stroke walked at their comfortable, fast, and slow speeds for six trials each without using any assistance or device.Walking speed, spatiotemporal gait parameters, step length asymmetry index (a spatial asymmetry
index), single support time asymmetry index (a temporal asymmetry index), and strideto-stride variability of spatiotemporal gait parameters were investigated for each walking speed condition. Results: The fast, comfort, and slow walking speeds of the subjects were 1.01±0.30,
0.66±0.18, and 0.43±0.19 m/sec, respectively, and were significantly different from each other (p<0.017). There were also significant differences in the majority of the investigated spatiotemporal gait parameters, except for stride width, across the three speed conditions (p<0.017).The stride-to-stride variability of all investigated gait parameters, except for stride width, and the single support time asymmetry index were significantly greater in the slow-speed walking
condition than in the other two speed conditions (p<0.017). Conclusions: Walking speed adaptability is preserved, but limited, in hemiplegic patients following mild to moderate stroke. These patients are able to modulate spatiotemporal gait parameters of both unaffected and affected
legs to achieve such adaptability. Patients presented the greatest temporal asymmetry and strideto-stride variability in most of the spatiotemporal gait parameters while walking at slow speed,compared to walking at the other two speeds. We suggest that to enhance walking speed adaptability,symmetry, and stride-to-stride consistency, patients with stroke may practice walking at their comfortable and fast speeds, instead of at a slow speed cautiously.