[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of stair walking training on balance ability of chronic stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Forty stroke patients were allocated equally and randomly to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group undertook 30 minutes of training therapy and 30 minutes of walking exercise on stairs with flat surfaces. The control group undertook 30 minutes went of training therapy and 30 minutes of walking exercise on a flat surface. All the participants had five training sessions each week for four weeks. A Biorescue system was used to measure the weight-bearing footprint, anterior length in the limit of stability, posterior length in the limit of stability, surface area ellipse of Romberg, and length of Romberg before and after the training. [Results] With regard to changes in the weight-bearing footprint, the anterior length in the limit of stability, and the posterior length in the limit of stability, there were significant differences on both the paretic and nonparetic sides, and there were also significant differences in the surface area ellipse of Romberg and length of Romberg after the intervention. [Conclusion] The experiment results showed that walking exercise on stairs is effective in enhancing balance performance. The same exercise can be applied to patients with other types of neurological disorders to improve their balance.

Abstract.[Purpose] The present study examines how PNF-based walking exercise on a ramp affects gait performance of stroke patients. [Methods] Forty stroke patients were randomly divided into an experiment group and a control group. For the former group, patients went through a half-hour of training therapy and a half-hour of PNFbased walking exercise on a ramp. For the latter group, patients went through 30 minutes of training therapy and a half-hour of walking exercise on a ramp. All participants had five training sessions each week for four weeks. For measurement, a GAITRite system was used to examine temporal parameters, spatial parameters, and functional ambulation performance before and after the training.[Results] Regarding temporal parameters, step time, double support, and stance phase decreased more significantly in the experiment group than in the control group after the walking exercise on a ramp, while mean velocity increased significantly. In terms of spatial parameters, step length, and heel-to-heel base of support increased significantly in the experiment group after the walking exercise, and step-to-extremity ratio decreased significantly in the same group. Lastly, FAP rose more significantly in the experiment group than in the control group following the walking exercise on a ramp.[Conclusion] The experiment results showed that PNF-based walking exercise on a ramp is effective in enhancing gait performance. It is expected that the same exercise can be applied to patients of other types of neurological disorders to improve their gait performances.