title: The effects of stepper exercise with visual feedback on strength, walking, and stair climbing in individuals following stroke.
abstract: [Purpose] This study investigated the effect of stepper exercise with visual feedback on strength, walking, and stair climbing in stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty-six stroke patients were divided randomly into the stepper exercise with visual feedback group (n = 13) or the stepper exercise group (n = 13). [Methods] Subjects in the experimental group received feedback through the mirror during exercise, while those in the control group performed the exercise without visual feedback; both groups exercised for the 30 min thrice per week for 6 weeks. The hip extensor and knee extensor strength, 10-m walking test results, and 11-step stair climbing test results were evaluated before and after the intervention. [Results] The stepper exercise with visual feedback group showed significantly greater improvement for hip extensor strength and the 10-m walking test. The knee extensor strength and 11-step stair climbing in both groups showed significantly greater improvement after the intervention, but without any significant difference between groups. [Conclusion] The findings of this study indicate that the stepper exercise with visual feedback can help improve the strength of the hip extensor and the 10-m walking test; the stepper exercise alone may also improve the knee extensor strength and stair climbing ability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Munsang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junsang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of English, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soonyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Sahmyook University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wanhee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Stairs; Stroke; Visual feedback