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Bilateral coordination and gait symmetry after body-weight supported treadmill training for persons with chronic stroke.
- Source :
-
Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon) [Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)] 2013 Apr; Vol. 28 (4), pp. 448-53. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Mar 01. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Locomotor interventions are commonly assessed using functional outcomes, but these outcomes provide limited information about changes toward recovery or compensatory mechanisms. The study purposes were to examine changes in gait symmetry and bilateral coordination following body-weight supported treadmill training in individuals with chronic hemiparesis due to stroke and to compare findings to participants without disability.<br />Methods: Nineteen participants with stroke (>6 months) who ambulated between 0.4 and 0.8 m/s and 22 participants without disability were enrolled in this repeated-measures study. The stroke group completed 24 intervention sessions over 8 weeks with 20 minutes of walking/session. The non-disabled group served as a comparison for describing changes in symmetry and coordination. Bilateral 3-dimensional motion analysis and gait speed were assessed across 3 time points (pre-test, immediate post-test, and 6-month retention). Continuous relative phase was used to evaluate bilateral coordination (thigh-thigh, shank-shank, foot-foot) and gait symmetry was assessed with spatiotemporal ratios (step length, swing time, stance time).<br />Findings: Significant improvements in continuous relative phase (shank-shank and foot-foot couplings) were found at post-test and retention for the stroke group. Significant differences in spatiotemporal symmetry ratios were not found over time. Compared to the non-disabled group, changes in bilateral coordination moved in the direction of normal recovery. Most measures of continuous relative phase were more responsive to change after training than the spatiotemporal ratios.<br />Interpretations: After body-weight supported treadmill training, the stroke group made improvements toward recovery of normal bilateral coordination. Bilateral coordination and gait symmetry measures may assess different aspects of gait.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Ataxia etiology
Body Weight
Chronic Disease
Exercise Test
Female
Gait Disorders, Neurologic etiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Paresis etiology
Paresis physiopathology
Paresis rehabilitation
Stroke complications
Ataxia physiopathology
Ataxia rehabilitation
Gait Disorders, Neurologic physiopathology
Gait Disorders, Neurologic rehabilitation
Stroke physiopathology
Stroke Rehabilitation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-1271
- Volume :
- 28
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23453726
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2013.02.001