title: Effects of a short burst of gait training with body weight-supported treadmill training for a person with chronic stroke: a single-subject study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a short-burst dose of intense gait training with body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on walking speed, endurance, and quality of life of a participant with chronic stroke. A single-subject experimental (A-B-A-A) design with immediate and 3-month retention phases was used. The participant was a 66-year-old woman, 1 year after left cerebrovascular accident. Repeated baseline walking performance was established during 2 weeks of testing using the comfortable 10-meter walk test (CWT) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) was measured one time during baseline. Baseline testing was followed by ten 30-minute sessions of BWSTT over a 2-week duration. Retention testing was conducted immediately and 3 months following the intervention. Statistically significant improvements from baseline with the CWT and the 6MWT were achieved and maintained by the participant across all subsequent measurement phases. Improvements considered to be clinically meaningful changes in the SIS domains of strength and mobility achieved immediately after the intervention were not maintained at 3-month retention testing. For the participant in this study, the short-burst dosage of BWSTT provided a feasible and effective means for improving goal-oriented functional walking ability.
authors.affiliation: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227, USA. scombs@uindy.edu
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: Ellen Winchell
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking; D016474:Weight-Bearing