Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of gait training with body weight support
(BWS) on a treadmill versus overground in individuals with chronic stroke.
DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University research laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS: Individuals
(N=28) with chronic stroke
(>6mo from the stroke
event). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive gait
training with BWS on a treadmill (n=14) or overground (n=14)
3 times a week for 6
weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gait speed measured using the 10-meter walk test,
endurance measured using the 6-minute walk test, functional independence measured
using the motor domain of the FIM, lower limb recovery measured using the lower
extremity domain of the Fugl-Meyer assessment, step length, step length symmetry
ratio, and single-limb support duration. Measurements were obtained at baseline,
immediately after the training session, and 6 weeks after the training session.
RESULTS: At 1 week after the last training session, both groups improved in all
outcome measures except paretic step length and step length symmetry ratio, which
were improved only in the overground group (P=.01 and P=.01, respectively). At 6
weeks after the last training session, all improvements remained and the
treadmill group also improved paretic step length (P<.001) but not step length
symmetry ratio (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with chronic stroke equally
improve gait speed and other gait parameters after 18 sessions of BWS gait
training on either a treadmill or overground. Only the overground group improved
step length symmetry ratio, suggesting a role of integrating overground walking
into BWS interventions poststroke.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS