Abstract

Most strokes cause severe gait impairments due to disruptions in the various mechanisms controlling gait.This narrativere view describes the classification and contribution of these mechanisms in stroke patients, synthesizing recent evidence published from 2014 through 2024. Central control mechanisms reviewed will include the roles of the motor cortex, corticospinal tract, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, focusing on how damage to these areas affects gait. It also covers peripheral mechanisms, including muscle weakness, joint contractures, spasticity, andsensorynervedamage, and their in uenceongait performance. Sensory feedback systems are also discussed, such as proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular inputs, inrelationtotheirin uenceongait stability and adaptation.This review collates findings fromr ecent research with a view to providing an over view of how such disruptions in these mechanisms contribute to gait abnormalities in stroke patients, with an emphasis on targeted rehabilitation strategies which could hope to address such issues.

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