These results suggest that two weeks of treadmill gait training associated to home-based exercises can be effective to improve postural balance and functional mobility in subacute stroke patients. However, the load addition was not a differential factor in intervention.

In subjects with hemiparesis, the addition of inclination is a stimulus capable of enhancing the effects of partial body weight-support treadmill gait training.

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of adding load to restrain the nonparetic lower limb during gait training on weight-bearing and temporal asymmetry after stroke. Design Thirty-eight subjects were randomized into treadmill training with load (5% of body weight) on the nonparetic limb (experimental group) and treadmill training without load (control group). Interventions lasted 30 mins/d for 2 wks (9 sessions). Both groups performed home-based exercises and were instructed to increase the use of paretic limb in daily life situations. Ground reaction force was obtained by a force plate during standing position (static) and gait (dynamic). Temporal gait parameters were assessed by a motion system analysis. Outcome measures were evaluated at baseline, posttraining, and after a 40-day follow-up. Results The experimental group increased static ground reaction force of the paretic limb at posttraining (P = 0.037) and the control group increased dynamic ground reaction force of the paretic limb at posttraining (P = 0.021), both with maintenance at follow-up. Neither group showed a change in the swing time symmetry ratio after training (P = 0.190). Conclusions Treadmill training associated with behavioral strategies/home-based exercises seemed to be useful to minimize weight-bearing asymmetry, but not to improve temporal gait asymmetry. Load addition did not show additional benefits.

No abstract

Load addition on NPLL did not alter cardiovascular parameters and gait training provide better gait performance of subacute stroke patients, which indicates this therapy can be considered useful and safe for these patients.