title: The Effect of Body Weight Support Treadmill Training on Gait Recovery, Proximal Lower Limb Motor Pattern, and Balance in Patients with Subacute Stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gait performance is an indicator of mobility impairment after stroke. This study evaluated changes in balance, lower extremity motor function, and spatiotemporal gait parameters after receiving body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) and conventional overground walking training (CT) in patients with subacute stroke using 3D motion analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient department of rehabilitation medicine at a university-affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 subjects with unilateral hemiplegia in the subacute stage were randomized to the BWSTT (n = 12) and CT (n = 12) groups. Parameters were compared between the two groups. Data from twelve age matched healthy subjects were recorded as reference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received gait training with BWSTT or CT for an average of 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Balance was measured by the Brunel balance assessment. Lower extremity motor function was evaluated by the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale. Kinematic data were collected and analyzed using a gait capture system before and after the interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups improved on balance and lower extremity motor function measures (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between the two groups after intervention. However, kinematic data were significantly improved (P < 0.05) after BWSTT but not after CT. Maximum hip extension and flexion angles were significantly improved (P < 0.05) for the BWSTT group during the stance and swing phases compared to baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In subacute patients with stroke, BWSTT can lead to improved gait quality when compared with conventional gait training. Both methods can improve balance and motor function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translational Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translational Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Wai Leung
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translational Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translational Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translational Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Motor Recovery Research Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, RUSK Rehabilitation, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Translational Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology