In this paper, an algorithm to detect steps in hemiplegic patients using a 3-axis accelerometer a紅ached on the trunk was proposed. The proposed algorithm consisted of the signal pre-processing, the step detector, the classification of steps and the calculation of stride time. Two FIR band-pass filters were designed and steps were measured by the combination of filtered signals in the vertical and the anteroposterior directions. In addition, the classification of steps and the calculation of stride time were computed by using the detected steps and lateral signals. For the experiment, fourteen hemiplegic patients were participated and the linear accelerations of the trunk and foot switch signals were measured synchronously. To evaluate the system performance, the detected steps and initial contacts by the foot switch were compared. The average error between the steps and initial contacts was 0.024ms and the difference of the average stride time was 0.01s. Finally, all gait events were detected exactly. Results showed that the accelerometry could use for the gait evaluation in clinical rehabilitation therapies.