Locomotor treadmill training with body-weight support prior to over-ground gait: promoting symmetrical gait in a subject with acute stroke.
OBJECTIVE
An asymmetrical gait pattern is frequently observed in persons recovering from stroke. Locomotor training with partial body-weight support (BWS) has been demonstrated to be effective for restoring ambulation abilities in persons poststroke. However, the optimal treatment parameters for this intervention have not been defined. The purpose of this case study was to report outcomes for a person in the acute period poststroke who experienced locomotor treadmill training with BWS prior to walking over ground.


METHODS
The subject of this report was a 60-year-old male with a large right-sided infarct extending into the basal ganglia. Locomotor training with BWS began on day 10 following the infarct. The subject had five sessions, totaling 40 minutes of walking practice, prior to starting gait training over ground.


RESULTS
The subject walked with a single-point cane (contact guard to standby assistance) for a total of 1,000 feet at a speed of 0.94 m/s (185 ft/min) when discharged on day 25 of rehabilitation. He demonstrated comparable stance time and step length bilaterally.


CONCLUSIONS
The subject of this case report experienced a good outcome using a combination of early locomotor treadmill training and traditional therapeutic activities. Further investigation of early treadmill training may be warranted in subjects with acute stroke.
McCain
Karen J
KJ
Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Smith
Patricia S
PS
D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology; D002183:Canes; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking