Treadmill-based locomotor training with leg weights to enhance functional ambulation in people with chronic stroke: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Novel locomotor training strategies for individuals with disorders of the central nervous system have been associated with improved locomotor function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill-based locomotor training combined with leg weights on functional ambulation in individuals with chronic stroke. We assessed functional ambulation and muscle activity in ambulatory individuals with chronic stroke.


METHODS
We used a pre/posttest design. Six individuals with chronic stroke who were community ambulators were recruited. Participants underwent a 30-minute treadmill-based locomotor training sessions three times per week for four to 12 weeks. The training program involved treadmill walking for 30 minutes with partial body weight support as needed. Leg weights, equivalent to 5% of body weight, were affixed around the paretic leg. Outcome measures consisted of the 10-m walk test, the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile, and temporal gait parameters.


RESULTS
Improvements were observed in functional ambulation measures, particularly the stairs subscore of the modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile. Participants also exhibited an increase in the proportion of time the paretic leg spent in swing. No significant improvements were observed in the 10-m walk test.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study demonstrates that the combination of leg weights and treadmill training is a feasible approach, that is well tolerated by participants. This approach may have the potential to improve some aspects of functional ambulation and the performance of activities requiring hip and knee flexion.
Lam
Tania
T
School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. tania.lam@ubc.ca
Luttmann
Kathryn
K
Houldin
Adina
A
Chan
Catherine
C
D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing