Exercise on a treadmill or walking outdoors? A randomized controlled trial comparing effectiveness of two walking exercise programmes late after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate spatial and temporal gait characteristics and endurance late after stroke in people who had received two different walking exercises. A secondary aim was to compare the outcomes in relation to length of time exercising and number of exercise occasions between the two.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
A private rehabilitation centre.


METHODS
Thirty-nine people with stroke entered the study, and five dropped out.


METHODS
Treadmill training versus walking outdoors.


METHODS
Six-Minute Walk Test, a 10-metre walk test and pulse rates at rest and in activity.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in favour of the treadmill group in Six-Minute Walk Test distance (P = 0.04), Six-Minute Walk Test speed (P = 0.03), 10-m walking speed (P = 0.03), bilateral stride length (right leg; P = 0.009, left leg; P = 0.003) and step width (P = 0.01), indicating more symmetrical use of the legs in the treadmill group (1.02-1.10 m versus 0.97-0.92 m). There were no significant differences between groups in cadence (P = 0.78). All participants complied 100% with their respective programmes. Exercise frequency did not differ between the groups but significantly less time was spent exercising on the treadmill compared with walking exercise outdoors (107 versus 316 minutes, P = 0.002). There were no differences in use of assistive aids between the groups on arrival at the clinic or at departure.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that treadmill walking improves spatial and temporal gait characteristics more effectively than walking outdoors.
Langhammer
Birgitta
B
Physiotherapy Programme, Faculty of Health, Oslo University College/Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Oslo 4/1450 Nesoddtangen, Norway. Birgitta.Langhammer@hf.hio.no
Stanghelle
Johan K
JK
D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*