Locomotor Treadmill Training With Partial Body-Weight Support Before Overground Gait in Adults With Acute Stroke: A Pilot Study
Abstract
McCain KJ, Pollo FE, Baum BS, Coleman SC, Baker S, Smith PS. Locomotor treadmill training with partial body-weight support before overground gait in adults with acute stroke: a pilot study.
Objective
To investigate the impact of locomotor treadmill training with partial body-weight support (BWS) before the initiation of overground gait for adults less than 6 weeks poststroke.
Design
Parallel group, posttest only.
Setting
Inpatient rehabilitation center.
Participants
Adults after first stroke admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit: treadmill group (n=7) and comparison group (n=7).
Interventions
Locomotor treadmill training with partial BWS or traditional gait training methods.
Main Outcome Measures
Gait kinematics, symmetry, velocity, and endurance at least 6 months postinsult.
Results
Data from 3-dimensional gait analysis and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) supported improved gait for adults postacute stroke who practiced gait on a treadmill before walking over ground. Gait analysis showed increased knee flexion during swing and absence of knee hyperextension in stance for the treadmill group. In addition, more normal ankle kinematics at initial contact and terminal stance were observed in the treadmill group. Improved gait symmetry in the treadmill group was confirmed by measures of single support time, hip flexion at initial contact, maximum knee flexion, and maximum knee extension during stance. The treadmill group also walked further and faster in the 6MWT than the comparison group.
Conclusions
Application of locomotor treadmill training with partial BWS before overground gait training may be more effective in establishing symmetric and efficient gait in adults postacute stroke than traditional gait training methods in acute rehabilitation.
aDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Allied Health Sciences School, Dallas, TX
bDepartment of Orthopaedics, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX
cMotion and Sports Performance Center, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX
dDepartment of Physical Therapy, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX.
Reprint requests to Karen J. McCain, PT, DPT, NCS, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8876
Supported by Baylor Research Institute (fund no. 56905) and the Joseph and Gail Deering Family Foundation.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT