Effect of forced use of the lower extremity on gait performance and mobility of post-acute stroke patients.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a forced-use training program on gait, mobility and quality of life of post-acute stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty-one individuals with unilateral stroke participated in this study. All participants had suffered from first-ever stroke with time since onset of at least 3 months. [Methods] A single-blinded, non-equivalent, pre-post controlled design with 1-month follow-up was adopted. Participants received either a forced-use or a conventional physical therapy program for 2 weeks. The main outcomes assessed were preferred and fastest walking velocities, spatial and temporal symmetry indexes of gait, the timed up and go test, the Rivermead Mobility Index, and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (Taiwan version). [Results] Forced-use training induced greater improvements in gait and mobility than conventional physical therapy. In addition, compared to pre-training, patients in the conventional physical therapy group walked faster but more asymmetrically after training. However, neither program effectively improved in-hospital quality of life. [Conclusion] The forced-use approach can be successfully applied to the lower extremities of stroke patients to improve mobility, walking speeds and symmetry of gait.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Wen-Hsiu
WH
Yu
Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang-Gung University, Taiwan.
Wen-Yu
WY
Liu
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Alice May-Kuen
AM
Wong
Department of Rehabilitation Technology, Tzu Hui Institute of Technology, Taiwan.
Tzu-Chi
TC
Wang
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Yen-Chen
YC
Li
Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang-Gung University, Taiwan.
Hen-Yu
HY
Lien
Forced-use; Mobility; Stroke