The effects of treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing on walking ability in ambulatory patients after stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing improves walking ability in ambulatory post-stroke patients.
Results Summary
The experimental group showed significant improvements in the 6-minute walk test and Berg Balance Scale compared to the control group, but no significant differences were found in the 10-meter walk test, timed "Up & Go" test, or Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale. Both groups improved in all measures post-intervention.
Population
Ambulatory post-stroke patients (29 subjects from a university hospital-based rehabilitation center).
Effective Dosage
30 minutes/day, 5 times/week of treadmill walking with obstacle-crossing (experimental group) or standard treadmill walking (control group).
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training | increase | 6-min walk test (6MWT) | ambulatory post-stroke patients | large effect of 1.12 | significantly higher | #1 |
treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training | increase | Berg Balance Scale (BBS) | ambulatory post-stroke patients | large effect of 0.78 | significantly higher | #2 |
treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training | no change | 10-m walk test (10MWT) | ambulatory post-stroke patients | - | not significantly higher | #3 |
treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training | no change | timed 'Up & Go' (TUG) test | ambulatory post-stroke patients | - | not significantly higher | #4 |
treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training | no change | Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale | ambulatory post-stroke patients | - | not significantly higher | #5 |
treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training | increase | walking ability | patients with hemiplegic stroke | - | may help improve | #6 |
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Treadmill walking training (TWT) provides greater amount and intensity of stepping practice than conventional walking training in patients with chronic stroke. However, there is not any conclusive evidence regarding the effects of TWT for ambulatory post-stroke patients. This study investigated the effects of treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing on the walking ability of ambulatory post-stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects from a university hospital-based rehabilitation center were randomly assigned to one of the following: experimental group (15 subjects) or control group (14 subjects). All subjects underwent 30 min of active/passive exercises and 30 min of gait training in the form of treadmill walking. The subjects in the experimental group underwent simultaneous training in obstacle-crossing while walking on the treadmill for 30 min/day, 5 times/week, for 4 weeks. Main measures were the 10-m walk test (10MWT), 6-min walk test (6MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed "Up & Go" (TUG) test, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale used before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The changed values of the 6MWT and BBS were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group after adjusting for each baseline value, with large effects of 1.12 and 0.78, respectively, but not in the 10MWT, TUG, and ABC scale scores. Both groups showed a significant difference in all variables before and after the intervention. CONCLUSION: Treadmill walking combined with obstacle-crossing training may help improve the walking ability of patients with hemiplegic stroke and can possibly be used as an adjunct to routine rehabilitation therapy as a task-oriented practice based on community ambulation.