Does therapeutic facilitation add to locomotor outcome of body weight--supported treadmill training in nonambulatory patients with stroke? A randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess benefit of the facilitation technique (FT) coupled with body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) in nonambulatory patients with stroke.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Inpatient rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients with nonambulatory patients with stroke were randomly allocated to BWSTT coupled with the FT or mechanical assistance (control).


METHODS
Swinging and stance of the paretic leg were assisted using the FT or mechanically (control) during BWSTT.


METHODS
The FIM instrument, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, gait speed, and cadence.


RESULTS
Demographic and clinical features of the FT (n=22) and control (n=25) groups on admission were comparable after excluding 2 dropouts. There were no differences in the gains of the main outcome measures between the FT and control groups. Patients with severe impairment in the FT group had greater gains in arm function than those in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The FT did not add significantly to locomotor outcome of BWSTT in nonambulatory patients with stroke but it did require more therapists' assistance.
Neurorehabilitation Research Institute, Bobath Memorial Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Hajime
H
Yagura
Megumi
M
Hatakenaka
Ichiro
I
Miyai
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome