title: Treadmill gait training combined with functional electrical stimulation on hip abductor and ankle dorsiflexor muscles for chronic hemiparesis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill training (TT) with functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied to the gluteus medius (GM) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles on gait and balance performance in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Thirty-six participants with chronic hemiparesis were recruited to this study and randomly distributed into three groups: TT with FES applied to the GM and TA muscles (TTFES-GM+TA group, 12 patients); TT with FES applied to the TA muscle (TTFES-TA group, 12 patients); and TT only (control group, 12 patients). All participants underwent 20 sessions of TT with a harness (30min five times per week for 4 weeks). They also received regular physical therapy for 1h five times per week for 4 weeks. All participants were assessed before and after training using digital muscle testing, the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale, the 6-min walk test (6MWT), and spatiotemporal parameters. After training, the TTFES-GM+TA group showed significant improvement in hip abductor strength, Berg Balance Scale score, 6MWT result, MRC scale score grade, gait velocity, and cadence compared to the TTFES-TA group and control group. These findings show that TT with FES applied to the GM and TA muscles increased lower limb muscle strength and improved balance and gait capacities. Therefore, TT with FES applied to the GM and TA could be a beneficial intervention in clinical settings for individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Kwon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Welfare, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yijung36@syu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yijung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Division of Health Science, Baekseok University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sujin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Functional electrical stimulation; Gait; Stroke; Treadmill training