title: Body weight-supported treadmill training vs. overground walking training for persons with chronic stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of body weight-supported treadmill training and overground walking training when matched for task and dose (duration/frequency/intensity) on improving walking function, activity, and participation after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial with three-month follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  University and community settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of participants (N = 20) at least six months post-stroke and able to walk independently were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-minute walking interventions (body weight-supported treadmill training or overground walking training) were administered five times a week for two weeks. Intensity was monitored with the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale at five-minute increments to maintain a moderate training intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Walking speed (comfortable/fast 10-meter walk), walking endurance (6-minute walk), spatiotemporal symmetry, and the ICF Measure of Participation and ACTivity were assessed before, immediately after, and three months following the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overground walking training group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in comfortable walking speed compared with the body weight-supported treadmill training group immediately (change of 0.11 m/s vs. 0.06 m/s, respectively; p = 0.047) and three months (change of 0.14 m/s vs. 0.08 m/s, respectively; p = 0.029) after training. Only the overground walking training group significantly improved comfortable walking speed (p = 0.001), aspects of gait symmetry (p = 0.032), and activity (p = 0.003) immediately after training. Gains were maintained at the three-month follow-up (p < 0.05) for all measures except activity. Improvements in participation were not demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overgound walking training was more beneficial than body weight-supported treadmill training at improving self-selected walking speed for the participants in this study.
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, IN, USA scombs@uindy.edu.
authors: Stephanie A
authors: SA
authors: Combs-Miller
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: Kalpathi Parameswaran
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Dawn
authors: D
authors: Colburn
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: Ertel
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Harmeyer
authors: Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Lindsay
authors: L
authors: Tucker
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors: Arlene A
authors: AA
authors: Schmid
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Overground walking; randomized controlled trial; stroke; treadmill training; treatment outcomes