Gait outcomes after additional backward walking training in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness of additional backward walking training on gait outcome of patients post stroke.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Medical centre.


METHODS
Twenty-five subjects with stroke, who were lower extremity Brunnstrom motor recovery stage at 3 or 4 and were able to walk 11 m with or without a walking aid or orthosis, randomly allocated to two groups, control (n = 12) and experimental (n = 13).


METHODS
Subjects in both groups participated in 40 min of conventional training programme three times a week for three weeks. Subjects in experimental group received additional 30 min of backward walking training for three weeks at a frequency of three times per week.


METHODS
Gait was measured using the Stride Analyzer. Gait parameters of interest were walking speed, cadence, stride length, gait cycle and symmetry index. Measures were made at baseline before commencement of training (pre-training) and at the end of the three-week training period (post-training).


RESULTS
After a three-week training period, subjects in experimental group showed more improvement than those in control group for walking speed (change score: 8.60 +/- 6.95 versus 3.65 +/- 2.92, p-value = 0.032), stride length (change score: 0.090 +/- 0.076 versus -0.0064 +/- 0.078, p-value = 0.006), and symmetry index (change score: 44.07 +/- 53.29 versus 5.30 +/- 13.91, p-value = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that asymmetric gait pattern in patients post stroke could be improved from receiving additional backward walking therapy.
Yang
Yea-Ru
YR
Institute & Faculty of Physical Therapy, National Yang-Ming University, Shih-Pai, Taipei, Taiwan. yryang@ym.edu.tw
Yen
Jyh-Geng
JG
Wang
Ray-Yau
RY
Yen
Lu-Lu
LL
Lieu
Fu-Kong
FK
D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking