Effect of handrail use while performing treadmill walking on the gait of stroke patients.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate how the use of handrails during treadmill walking affects the gait parameters of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The participants, 30 hemiplegic stroke patients, were randomly allocated to one of three groups: the NHG group (No Handrail group, n=10), the FHG group (Front handrail group, n=10), and BHG group (Bilateral Handrail group, n=10). All the subjects' performed treadmill walking for 30 min, five days a week, for a period of eight weeks. Gait parameters were evaluated using the RS-scan system. [Results] A statistically significant difference in the HM (heel-medial) area of plantar foot pressure was observed between BHG and NHG. Statistically significant difference in the HL (heel-lateral) area of plantar foot pressure was observed between BHG and NHG, and between FHG and NHG. A statistically significant difference in contact area of the rear foot was observed between BHG and NHG. [Conclusion] The results of this study show that holding handrails during treadmill training may enhance the improvement in the quality of patients' gait (plantar foot pressure, contact area of foot).
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, Republic of Korea.
Kyung Woo
KW
Kang
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, Republic of Korea.
Na Kyung
NK
Lee
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Cheongju University, Republic of Korea.
Sung Min
SM
Son
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, Republic of Korea.
Jung Won
JW
Kwon
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, Republic of Korea.
Kyoung
K
Kim
Handrails; Stroke; Treadmill training