title: Does a single gait training session performed either overground or on a treadmill induce specific short-term effects on gait parameters in patients with hemiparesis? A randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gait training for patients with hemiparesis is carried out independently overground or on a treadmill. Several studies have shown differences in hemiparetic gait parameters during overground versus treadmill walking. However, few studies have compared the effects of these 2 gait training conditions on gait parameters, and no study has compared the short-term effects of these techniques on all biomechanical gait parameters.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a gait training session performed overground or on a treadmill induces specific short-term effects on biomechanical gait parameters in patients with hemiparesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six subjects with hemiparesis were randomly assigned to a single session of either overground or treadmill gait training. The short-term effects on spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic gait parameters were assessed using gait analysis before and immediately after the training and after a 20-minute rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speed, cadence, percentage of single support phase, peak knee extension, peak propulsion, and braking on the paretic side were significantly increased after the gait training session. However, there were no specific changes dependent on the type of gait training performed (overground or on a treadmill).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A gait training session performed by subjects with hemiparesis overground or on a treadmill did not induce specific short-term effects on biomechanical gait parameters. The increase in gait velocity that followed a gait training session seemed to reflect specific modifications of the paretic lower limb and adaptation of the nonparetic lower limb.
authors.affiliation: Université Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, EA 4497, CIC-IT 805, APHP Service de physiologie et d'exploration fonctionnelle, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France Laboratoire AGIM, FRE 3405 CNRS/UJF Grenoble/UPMF/EPHE, La Tronche, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonnyaud
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pradon
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zory
authors.forename: Djamel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bensmail
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vuillerme
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010291:Paresis / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: biomechanical parameters; gait training; hemiparesis; overground; treadmill