title: The effect of underwater gait training on balance ability of stroke patients.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of underwater treadmill gait training on the balance ability of stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty-two patients with stroke were randomly assigned to an underwater treadmill group (n =11) or a control group (n =11). [Methods] Both groups received general rehabilitation for 30 min per session, 5 times per week, over a 4-week period. The underwater treadmill group received additional underwater gait training for 30 min per session, 5 times per week, over the same 4-week period. Static and dynamic balances were evaluated before and after the intervention. [Results] The means of static and dynamic balance ability increased significantly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. [Conclusion] Compared to the general rehabilitation program, underwater treadmill gait training was not more effective at improving the balance ability of stroke patients than land-based training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Doo Chul
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Mo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Song
keywords: Gait; Stability; Stroke