Purpose: Toileting independence is important for patients to maintain self-esteem and to return home. Unaffected grip strength and trunk functions have been noted in earlier studies to be associated with toileting independence in stroke patients. The objective of this study was to explore appropriate indices and calculate cut-off values with regard to unaffected grip strength and trunk functions that could be completed in a short time for estimating toileting independence in stroke patients.

Methods: The subjects were 37 stroke patients, each of whom scored at least 21 points in the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. The patients were divided into independent and non-independent toileting groups by FIM® scores related to toiling items (“Toileting” and “Toilet transfer”). Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to elucidate items that showed an association with the presence or absence of toileting independence, and to calculate cut-off values of grip strength and trunk function from the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set as variables.

Results: Grip strength was significantly associated with toileting independence. The cut-off value was 3 points (sensitivity, 74%; specificity, 71%; receiver operating characteristic area under the curve, 0.730).

Discussion: Because grip strength can be quickly measured, calculated grip strength cut-off values can estimate a patient's ability for toileting independence. However, the cut-off value shown in the present study may be applicable to only patients with good trunk function.