A pilot study of an RCT trial of gait training in sub acute stroke patients with partial body weight support

Maple F, Raymond K, Leonard S

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gait training in subacute stroke patients, using an electromechanical gait trainer with or without functional electrical stimulation (FES).

Design: RCT with 6 month follow up. 54 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: conventional overground gait training treatment, electromechanical gait trainer and gait trainer with FES. Interventions ran for 20 minutes a day over 4 weeks. Outcome measures included Barthel Index, FIM, Motricity Index, Berg Balance scale, Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS), Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC) and 5m walking speed test.

Statistically significant improvements were noted in EMS, FAC and gait speed. Results suggest that for sub-acute stroke patients training using an electromechanical gait trainer was more effective than normal overground training.

Stroke, 2008, 39. 154-160

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