Effects of gait training with horizontal impeding force on gait and balance of stroke patients.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill training with a horizontal impeding force applied to the center of upper body mass on the gait and balance of post-stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four subjects with hemiplegia less than 3 months after stroke onset were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an applied horizontal impeding force on treadmill training (experimental) group (n = 12), and a control group (n = 12). Both groups walked on a treadmill at a comfortable or moderate speed for 20 minutes per day, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks after a pre-test. The experimental group also had a horizontal impeding force applied to the center of their upper body mass. [Results] All groups demonstrated significant improvement after 8 weeks compared to baseline measurements. In intra-group comparisons, the subjects' gait ability (CGS, MGS, cadence, and step length) and balance ability (TUG, BBS, and FRT) significantly improved. In inter-group comparisons, the experimental group's improvement was significantly better in CGS MGS, cadence, step length, TUG, and BBS, but not in FRT. [Conclusion] Treadmill training was identified as an effective training method that improved gait and balance ability. A horizontal impeding force applied during treadmill training was more effective than treadmill walking training alone at improving the gait and dynamic balance of patients with stroke.
Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
Kyung-Pil
KP
Na
Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
You Lim
YL
Kim
Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
Suk Min
SM
Lee
Horizontal impeding force; Treadmill gait; Upper body