title: Effects of treadmill training with partial body weight support and the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation method on hemiparetic gait: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gait disturbance is common after stroke; however, there is no consensus regarding the optimal therapeutic rehabilitation of hemiparetic gait.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of the treadmill training with partial body-weight support (TPBWS) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) method on gait of subjects with chronic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trial, comparing two experimental groups (comparative study).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory for Human Movement Analysis of UFRN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three subjects, with a mean age of 56.7±8.0 years and a mean time since the onset of the stroke of 27.7±20.3 months, able to walk with personal assistance or assistive devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experimental groups underwent gait training based on PNF method (N.=11) or using the TPBWS (N.=12), for twelve sessions. Evaluation of motor function (using the STREAM and motor FIM), and kinematic gait analysis were carried out before and after the interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increases in the STREAM scores (F=49.189, P<0.001) and in motor FIM scores (F=7.093, P=0.016), as well as improvement in symmetry ratio-swing time of the paretic leg/swing time of non-paretic leg--(F=7.729, P=0.012), were observed for both groups. Speed, stride length and double-support time showed no change after training. Differences between groups were observed only for the maximum ankle dorsiflexion over the swing phase (F=6.046, P=0.024), which showed an increase for the PNF group. Other angular parameters remain unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement in motor function and in gait symmetry was observed for both groups, suggesting similarity of interventions. However, the sample size should be carefully considered in generalizing the results to other populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed some equivalence between these two approaches with regard to motor recovery, functionality and temporal symmetry of hemiparetic gait, suggesting that the cost-effectiveness of each treatment may have a important role in this choice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil - raquellindquist@ufrnet.br.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Britto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindquist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation