title: Randomized comparison trial of gait training with and without compelled weight-shift therapy in individuals with chronic stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of gait training combined with compelled weight-shift therapy and gait training alone on velocity and gait symmetry in patients with chronic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients ( N=28) with chronic stroke and stance asymmetry toward the non-paretic side.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six weeks of gait training combined with compelled weight-shift therapy via a shoe lift applied under the non-paretic leg (experimental group, n=14) or gait training alone (control group, n=14).
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage of total body weight carried by the paretic limb, gait velocity and gait spatiotemporal symmetry ratios including step symmetry, stance symmetry, swing symmetry and overall temporal symmetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing the two groups, weight bearing on the affected side increased more significantly in experimental group than in control group (40.14±3.77, 38.28±4.06) after the end of treatment and also after a three-month follow-up (44.42±3.5, 38.5±3.77) (P<0.05). Among the experimental and control groups, there were no significant differences of gait velocity (cm/s) after six weeks of treatment (49.82±16.82, 42.66±18.75) and also after a three-month follow-up (50.94±16.27, 41.66±17.58) ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences of gait spatiotemporal symmetry ratios including step symmetry, stance symmetry, swing symmetry and overall temporal symmetry between the two groups after six weeks of treatment and also at three-month follow-up ( P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not confirm that the effect of gait training combined with compelled body weight shift therapy was better than gait training alone on improving velocity and gait symmetry in patients with chronic stroke.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, School of Paramedical Sciences, Campus of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Azadi square, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology, Quaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Azarpazhooh
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, School of Paramedical Sciences, Campus of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Azadi square, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein Asghar
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hosseini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Rehabilitation; gait; stroke; symmetry; velocity