Abstract
Background and Objectives: Gait training with body weight-support has been shown to improve the walking speed of individuals with movement disorders. The AccesSportAmerica Gait Trainer is a low-cost, pre-market gait rehabilitation device that alters the stride characteristics of participants walking on a standard treadmill. The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical outcomes that training on this device has for people with brain injuries that affect motor functioning. It was hypothesized that there would be an increase in walking speed post-intervention, and that there would be an increase in step length and joint range-of-motion. Materials and Methods: An intervention study was conducted with 11 people with ambulatory difficulty caused by post-stroke hemiparesis (n = 7), traumatic brain injury (n = 3), and cerebral palsy (n = 1). The average time using the AccesSportAmerica Gait Trainer was 34.5 (SD = 6.0) minutes per session for 36.9 (SD = 21.8) sessions. Gait speed, step length and time, and joint flexion were measured during the 10 Meter Walk Test. Results: From pre- to post-intervention, there was a mean increase in walking speed of 0.19 m/s (SD = 0.06, p = 0.016, d = 0.40) and a decrease in step time of both affected and unaffected legs (affected: p = 0.011, d = 0.37; unaffected: p = 0.004, d = 0.67). There was no significant change in stride length or joint angles. Conclusions: The AccesSportAmerica Gait Trainer has the potential to improve the walking speed of people with ambulatory difficulty.
Highlights
Over 20 million Americans live with ambulatory difficulty, defined as difficulty walking or climbing stairs [1]
Body weight-support treadmill training is an approach to improving gait speed and other gait parameters in individuals living with movement disorders [7,8,9]
They had a variety of disabilities that affect motor function: seven were post-stroke with hemiparesis, three with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and one with cerebral palsy (CP)
Summary
Over 20 million Americans live with ambulatory difficulty, defined as difficulty walking or climbing stairs [1]. Gait speed as measured by the Ten. Meter Walk Test (10MWT) is a simple assessment tool that provides a wealth of information about the ability to function in the home and community. Body weight-support treadmill training is an approach to improving gait speed and other gait parameters in individuals living with movement disorders [7,8,9]. Manual methods for body weight-support treadmill training require hand-over-hand manipulation by therapists who are sitting on the side of the treadmill. These methods are staff intensive and lead to fatigue and imprecise correction of gait [10]. Gait training with body weight-support has been shown to improve the walking speed of individuals with movement disorders.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
