Effects of insole on the less affected side during execution of treadmill walking training on gait ability in chronic stroke patients: A preliminary study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if inducing a weight shift to the affected side by raising the shoe height of the less affected side during treadmill training improves gait ability in people with chronic stroke.
Results Summary
The study found that treadmill training with an insole on the less affected side (ILTW) significantly improved multiple gait parameters (e.g., speed, stride length, support duration) and functional walking tests (FGA, F8WT, 6MWT) compared to normal treadmill training (NTW). The ILTW group showed broader improvements than the NTW group, suggesting enhanced walking ability in chronic stroke patients.
Population
People with chronic stroke
Effective Dosage
30 minutes per session, 5 times a week
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Speed | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #1 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Stride Length/Height | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #2 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Stride Length | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #3 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Stance Phase Duration | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #4 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Swing Phase Duration | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #5 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Double Support Duration | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #6 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Single Support Duration | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #7 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #8 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | Figure-of-Eight Walk Test (F8WT) | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #9 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | 6 min Walk Test (6 MWT) | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #10 |
normal treadmill training (NTW) | increase | Speed | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #11 |
normal treadmill training (NTW) | increase | Cadence | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #12 |
normal treadmill training (NTW) | increase | Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #13 |
normal treadmill training (NTW) | increase | Figure-of-Eight Walk Test (F8WT) | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #14 |
normal treadmill training (NTW) | increase | 6 min Walk Test (6 MWT) | people with chronic stroke | - | statistically significant improvements were observed | #15 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | walking ability | people with chronic stroke | - | may improve | #16 |
insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) | increase | weight-support ratio | people with chronic stroke | - | increases | #17 |
BACKGROUND: People who have had hemiplegic stoke generally move more weight to the unaffected side than the affected side, resulting in asymmetrical posture and decreased ability in walking. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the effect of inducing a weight shift to the affected side by raising the shoe height of the less affected side using an insole during the execution of treadmill training on gait ability in people with chronic stroke. METHODS: The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: insole on less affected side for execution of treadmill walking training (ILTW) group and normal treadmill training (NTW) group. The treadmill training was conducted for 30 minutes per session, 5 times a week, for 4 weeks. A gait analyzer based on body center, Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), Figure-of-Eight Walk Test (F8WT), and 6 min Walk Test (6 MWT), was measured before first intervention and after twentieth treadmill training intervention (Trial registration number is KCT0003830). RESULTS: The results revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups in the Speed, Cadence, Stride Length/Height, Stride Length, Double Support Duration, Single Support Duration, FGA, F8WT, and 6 MWT of the gait test. In the ILTW group, statistically significant improvements were observed in the Speed, Stride Length/Height, Stride Length, Stance Phase Duration, Swing Phase Duration, Double Support Duration, Single Support Duration, FGA, F8WT, and 6 MWT after execution of training, while in the NTW group, statistically significant improvements were observed only in Speed, Cadence, FGA, F8WT, and 6 MWT. CONCLUSIONS: ILTW, more than NTW, may improve walking ability in people with chronic stroke as it increases the weight-support ratio by adjusting the shoe height of the unaffected side using an insole.