The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between sitting and standing balance in acute stroke patients and gait outcome, and to determine appropriate test times. The subjects of this study were 20 hemiplegic patients who had been hospitalized in Sangji University Oriental Medical Hospital from August 26, 1997 through November 3, 1997. Twenty patients with cerebral infarcts had sitting and standing balance assessed on the 5th day and 10th day of stroke onset. Gait outcome was assessed 5 weeks later using the MMAS (Modified Motor Assessment Scale) score. The data were analyzed by the Spearman's Rho test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results were as follows: 1) Correlation coefficients between sitting balance on the 5th day and 10th day after their stroke and gait outcome 5 weeks after their stroke were =0.89 and =0.83, respectively. All of the sitting balance data significantly correlated with gait outcome (p<0.05). 2) Correlation coefficients between standing balance on the 5th day and 10th day after their stroke and gait outcome 5 weeks after their stroke were =0.82 and =0.87, respectively. All of the standing balance data significant1y correlated with gait outcome (p<0.05). 3) The difference between sitting balance scores on the 5th day and 10th day after stroke onset were statistically significant (p<0.05). But the difference between standing balance scores on the 5th day and 10th day after stroke onset were not statistically significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, sitting and standing balance tests on the 5th day and 10th day after their stroke appear to be predictive of gait outcome. Also, the result of this study can provide reference for appropriate test times as an assessment of sitting and standing balance in stroke patients.