An exploration of the effects of weighted garments on balance and gait of stroke patients with residual disability.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of weighted garments on the balance and gait of stroke patients.


METHODS
A pilot randomized controlled study with blinded measurement.


METHODS
Weighted garments were worn by patients living in the community and measurement was made in a hospital-based gait laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty-four adults who were at least six months post stroke and were able to walk 10 metres with or without assistance or a walking aid.


METHODS
The six-week treatment-phase subjects were given a set of weighted garments which they were shown how to apply and instructed to wear on their paretic side. Subjects randomly allocated to the six-week control phase were not given any weighted garments.


METHODS
Balance was measured with the Berg Balance Scale. Gait was measured using GaitMat II, an instrumented walkway. Gait parameters of interest were velocity and symmetry of: step length; single support time; double support time; and support base width. Measures were made at baseline before randomization (baseline) and at the end of the six weeks of intervention (outcome).


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found between the treatment and control groups at outcome for balance (Mann-Whitney U-test; p = 0.74), gait velocity (p = 0.68) or symmetry of gait parameters (p = 0.33 to p = 0.75).


CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence to support the clinical use of these weighted garments for stroke survivors.
Pomeroy
V M
VM
The Stroke Association's Therapy Research Unit, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Manchester, Salford, UK. vpomeroy@fs1.ho.man.ac.uk
Evans
B
B
Falconer
M
M
Jones
D
D
Hill
E
E
Giakas
G
G
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome