Effect of Antigravity Treadmill Gait Training on Gait Function and Fall Risk in Stroke Patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of antigravity treadmill gait training (AGT) on gait function, balance, and fall risk in stroke patients.Methods This study included 30 patients with stroke (mean age, 73 years). All subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (n=15) performed AGT for 20 minutes, five times per week for 4 weeks. The control group (n=15) received conventional gait training for the same duration. To assess fall risk, the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) was measured. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and 10-m walk test (10mWT) were measured to assess dynamic balance. All scales were measured before intervention (T0) and at 4 weeks (T1) and 12 weeks (T2) after intervention.Results Results showed that the total POMA score, BBS, and 10mWT scores improved significantly (p<0.05) at T1 and T2 in both groups. The POMA gait score (4.20±1.37 at T1, 4.87±1.36 at T2) and TUG (4.52±4.30 at T1, 5.73±4.97 at T2) significantly improved (p<0.05) only in the intervention group. The changes in total POMA score and BBS of the intervention group (7.20±2.37, 7.47±3.07) improved more significantly (p<0.05) between T0 and T2 than the control group (2.53±2.10, 2.87±2.53).Conclusion Our study showed that AGT enhances dynamic balance and gait speed and effectively lowers fall risk in stroke patients. Compared to conventional gait therapy, AGT would improve gait function and balance in stroke patients more effectively.

The Effectiveness of Lower-Body Positive Pressure Treadmill Gait Training on Mobility Function and Quality of Life in Individuals with Chronic Stroke: Prospective Cohort Study

“…(18) reported that LBPP was superior to the control group in balance and walking ability measured by the Berg Balance Scale, TUG, and 10MWT after four weeks of treatment in chronic stroke patients. Similarly, Oh et al (19) found that the use of an anti-gravity treadmill has been proven to be an effective intervention approach for lowering the risk of falling in stroke patients, as measured by the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment, the BBS and the TUG. Sukonthamarn et al (21) and Duran et al (20) recruited acute and subacute stroke patients who were more susceptible to spontaneous recovery than the effect of the intervention (37).…”

“…Sukonthamarn et al (21) and Duran et al (20) recruited acute and subacute stroke patients. Oh et al (19) and Park and Chung (18) found that LBPP improved balance and walking ability compared to the control group in chronic stroke patients.…”

“…Current data regarding its therapeutic use and effectiveness in the stroke population with locomotor deficits is insufficient. We are only aware of seven studies that examine the effect of LBPP on the stroke population (9,(18)(19)(20)(21); two of them are case studies (22,23). Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings of previous studies.…”

A robotic treadmill system to mimic overground walking training with body weight support

“…The control performance also needs to be optimized to provide more accurate unloading force. Moreover, an optimized protocol for the proposed system needed to be investigated for future clinical use (Oh et al, 2022).…”

Optimizing Rehabilitation Outcomes for Stroke Survivors: The Impact of Speed and Slope Adjustments in Anti-Gravity Treadmill Training

“…Furthermore, the variation in speed and slope introduces a dynamic aspect to the rehabilitation program, challenging patients' balance and coordination in a controlled environment. This dynamic challenge is essential for retraining the neural pathways involved in gait and balance, enhancing proprioception and motor control, which are vital for preventing falls and improving walking confidence [21,22]. The purpose of this study is to delve into the impact of varying training protocols on the AGT in the rehabilitation of stroke patients, with a keen focus on the effects of speed increment training.…”