title: Gait outcomes after acute stroke rehabilitation with supported treadmill ambulation training: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate gait outcomes with supported treadmill ambulation training (STAT) associated with regular rehabilitation in acute stroke survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial, pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation medicine service at a Veterans Affairs medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven acute stroke survivors assigned to regular intervention group and 6 patients assigned to STAT intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regular intervention consisted of 3 hours daily of physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, and occupational therapy. STAT group received regular rehabilitation with STAT substituted for usual gait training. Participants were tested at baseline, treated for an average of 3 weeks, and retested on discharge. The analysis of covariance procedure was used to test for differences between the 2 approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional Ambulation Category Scale, gait speed, walking distance, gait energy expenditure, and gait energy cost.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The small sample size did not generate enough power to detect significant differences in any variable. However, medium to large effect sizes of 0.7 and 1.16 standard deviation units were observed for gait energy cost and walk distance, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study indicated that STAT is a safe, feasible, and promising intervention for acute stroke survivors. A larger trial is warranted for statistical relevance.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Inácio Teixeira
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Huma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qureshy
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.forename: Trilok
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Protas
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome