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Background: Changes in the paretic-side metabolism post-stroke and quadriceps muscle mechanical properties favour muscle wasting, affecting postural instability and walking impairment. Further clarification is needed in subjects post-stroke who show limited or non-limited community ambulation.

Objectives: To analyze between-limb differences in quadriceps muscle thickness, strength and thigh cutaneous temperature, as well as investigate postural stability in subjects with chronic stroke and limited vs. non-limited community ambulation and compared against healthy controls.

Methods: In this controlled cross-sectional study, 26 participants with chronic hemiparesis post-stroke (divided in a slow gait group (SG<0.8 m/s) (n = 13) and a fast gait group with full community ambulation speed (FG≥0.8 m/s)) and 18 healthy people were recruited. Thigh surface temperature, rectus femoris (RF) and vastus intermedius (VI …