Improvements of Muscle Strength and Gait Ability among Chronic Post-Stroke Patients by Gait Training with a Footpad-Type Locomotion Interface

Abstract

Objective: We examined the effects of gait training using an original footpad-type locomotion interface named GaitMaster for chronic stroke patients. Method: Ten chronic hemiparetic patients after stroke participated. The subjects were divided randomly into two groups (n=5 each). Group A subjects followed an ‘intervention phase’ and then a ‘non-intervention phase’, and group B subjects followed the ‘non-intervention phase’ and then the ‘intervention phase.’ In the intervention phase, the subjects underwent twelve 20-min sessions of gait training using the Gait Master. In the non-intervention phase, they performed the same typical rehabilitation or exercise they had been doing before beginning their anticipation in the study. Main Outcome Measures: We measured the subjects’ gait speed and the isometric muscle strength of hip flexion and extension once a week or after every three Gait Master training sessions. Results: No significant differences were observed in the clinical data at baseline between the groups. The maximum gait speed improved significantly in the intervention phase compared to the non-intervention phase (p<0.05). Muscle strength in paretic hip flexion (p<0.05), non-paretic hip flexion (p<0.05), and paretic hip extension (p<0.05) improved significantly after the intervention phase compared to the non-intervention phase. Conclusions: These results suggest that gait training using the Gait Master can improve gait ability and the muscle strength of both paretic hip flexion and extension, and that gait rehabilitation using the Gait Master will be effective for chronic stroke patients.