Efficacy of a novel walking assist device with auxiliary laser illuminator in stroke Patients~ a randomized control trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of a quad-cane with an auxiliary laser illuminator (laser-cane) on gait parameters, balance, and daily living activities in stroke patients.
Results Summary
Both groups improved in cadence, balance, and mobility, but the experimental group showed additional improvements in stride length, gait speed, and gait symmetry. The laser-cane group demonstrated better outcomes in gait symmetry and specific gait parameters compared to the control group.
Population
Stroke patients
Effective Dosage
15 minutes of walking training with laser-cane and 15 minutes of traditional physical therapy, twice per week
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | cadence | stroke patients | - | improved | #1 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | relative stance phase duration of non-paretic side | stroke patients | - | improved | #2 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | relative swing phase duration of non-paretic side | stroke patients | - | improved | #3 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | Berg Balance Scale (BBS) | stroke patients | - | improved | #4 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | decrease | Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) | stroke patients | - | improved | #5 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | stride length | stroke patients | - | improved | #6 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | relative stance phase duration of paretic side | stroke patients | - | improved | #7 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | relative swing phase duration of paretic side | stroke patients | - | improved | #8 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | gait speed | stroke patients | - | improved | #9 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | temporal swing symmetry | stroke patients | - | improved | #10 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | toe-off angle of non-paretic side | stroke patients | - | improved | #11 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | stride length | stroke patients | - | increased | #12 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | gait speed | stroke patients | - | increased | #13 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | decrease | relative stance phase duration of the non-paretic site | stroke patients | - | decreased | #14 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | temporal swing symmetry | stroke patients | - | improved | #15 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | decrease | relative stance phase duration of the paretic side | stroke patients | - | decreased | #16 |
walking training with laser-cane and traditional physical therapy | increase | temporal stance symmetry | stroke patients | - | improved | #17 |
Rehabilitation with laser-cane | increase | balance | stroke patients | - | improved | #18 |
Rehabilitation with laser-cane | increase | activity of daily living | stroke patients | - | improved | #19 |
Rehabilitation with laser-cane | increase | gait symmetry | stroke patients | - | improved | #20 |
Rehabilitation with laser-cane | increase | gait parameters | stroke patients | - | improved | #21 |
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Task-oriented functional walking is important in stroke patients. We aimed to investigate effects of a quad-cane with auxiliary laser illuminator (laser-cane) among stroke patients. METHODS: This was a randomized-prospective study. Patients in the experimental group (EG) received 15-min of walking training with laser-cane and 15-min of traditional physical therapy. Patients in the control group (CG) received the same rehabilitation without laser-cane. The rehabilitation lasted for 4 weeks, twice per week. Primary outcome were gait parameters. Secondary outcomes were Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Barthel index (BI). Outcomes were measured at baseline, at the end of the rehabilitation (visit-1), and 4 weeks later (visit-2). RESULTS: Both the groups (both n = 15) showed improvement of cadence, relative stance and swing phase duration of non-paretic side, BBS, and TUG at both visits. In the intragroup comparison, the EG additionally improved at stride length, relative stance and swing phase duration of paretic side, and gait speed at both visits; temporal swing symmetry, and toe-off angle of non-paretic side at the visit-2. Intergroup comparing for changing of outcomes with the CG, stride length and gait speed increased, relative stance phase duration of the non-paretic site decreased, and the temporal swing symmetry improved at the visit-1; relative stance phase duration of the paretic side decreased and the temporal stance symmetry improved at the visit-2 in the EG. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation with laser-cane improved the balance, activity of daily living, gait symmetry and gait parameters of stroke patients.