Effect of Body Weight Support Treadmill Training on Gait Speed in Acute Stroke Rehabilitation -A Quasi Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Stroke is a global health problem. The most common manifestation of stroke are gaitabnormalities along with other neuromusculor impairments. Around 60% of stroke survivors will be limitedin community ambulation, walking after stroke is characterized by altered gait parameters and reduction inthe gait speed, it changes the quality and adaptability of walking pattern, for the optimal ambulation needto restore the gait speed along with other gait parameter, Through the elimination of deterrents like bodyweight and other neuromusculor impairments will effectively helps to restore the gait parameters along withits speed. So, use of body weight support treadmill in gait training is effective in restoration of gait speedin acute stroke rehabilitation, in addition it is feasible and safe. Objective: To evaluate the effect of bodyweight supported treadmill training by using 10 meter walk test on gait speed in acute stroke subjects.Methodology: A Quasi experimental study, A total of 25 stroke patients were screened and only 20 wererecruited who are willing to be in the study and they were randomly allocated into two groups. In GroupA (n=10) subjects were received body weight supported treadmill training along with routine individualphysiotherapy , where in Group B (n=10) subjects were received routine individual physiotherapy only,10 meter walk test measured as outcome. Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using the JASPversion 0.12.2, Paired t test for within group and Unpaired t test for between groups comparison. Results:Statistically significant difference was found between pre and post measures of gait speed in the controland study groups with greater improvement in the study group. Conclusion: adding body weight supporttreadmill training in acute stroke rehabilitation is effective in improvement of gait speed in acute strokerehabilitation, in addition it is feasible and safe.