title: Body weight-supported treadmill training is no better than overground training for individuals with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) has produced mixed results compared with other therapeutic techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether an intensive intervention (intensive mobility training) including BWSTT provides superior gait, balance, and mobility outcomes compared with a similar intervention with overground gait training in place of BWSTT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three individuals with chronic stroke (mean [SD] age, 61.5 [13.5] years; mean [SD] time since stroke, 3.3 [3.8] years), were randomized to a treatment (BWSTT, n = 23) or control (overground gait training, n = 20) group. Treatment consisted of 1 hour of gait training; 1 hour of balance activities; and 1 hour of strength, range of motion, and coordination for 10 consecutive weekdays (30 hours). Assessments (step length differential, self-selected and fast walking speed, 6-minute walk test, Berg Balance Scale [BBS], Dynamic Gait Index [DGI], Activities-specific Balance Confidence [ABC] scale, single limb stance, Timed Up and Go [TUG], Fugl-Meyer [FM], and perceived recovery [PR]) were conducted before, immediately after, and 3 months after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences (α = 0.05) were found between groups after training or at follow-up; therefore, groups were combined for remaining analyses. Significant differences (α = 0.05) were found pretest to posttest for fast walking speed, BBS, DGI, ABC, TUG, FM, and PR. DGI, ABC, TUG, and PR results remained significant at follow-up. Effect sizes were small to moderate in the direction of improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of intensive interventions of durations greater than 10 days for improving gait, balance, and mobility in individuals with chronic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Physical Therapy Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Addie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Human Services, Physical Therapy Program, Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merlo-Rains
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Physical Therapy Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Physical Therapy Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Jennifaye V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Erika L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Blanck
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Physical Therapy Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fritz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: balance; gait; mobility; rehabilitation; stroke; treadmill training