Ming Wu1, Jill M Landry2, Janis Kim2, Brian D Schmit3, Sheng-Che Yen2, Jillian Macdonald2. 1. Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: w-ming@northwestern.edu. 2. Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 3. Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether providing a controlled resistance versus assistance to the paretic leg at the ankle during treadmill training will improve walking function in individuals poststroke. DESIGN: Repeated assessment of the same patients with parallel design and randomized controlled study between 2 groups. SETTING: Research units of rehabilitation hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=30) with chronic stroke. INTERVENTION: Subjects were stratified based on self-selected walking speed and were randomly assigned to the resistance or assistance training group. For the resistance group, a controlled resistance load was applied to the paretic leg at the ankle to resist leg swing during treadmill walking. For the assistance group, a load that assists swing was applied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were walking speed and 6-minute walking distance. Secondary measures included clinical assessments of balance, muscle tone, and quality of life. Outcome measures were evaluated before and after 6 weeks of training and at 8 weeks' follow-up, and compared within group and between the 2 groups. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of robotic training, walking speed significantly increased for both groups, with no significant differences in walking speed gains observed between the 2 groups. In addition, 6-minute walking distance and balance significantly improved for the assistance group but not for the resistance group. CONCLUSIONS: Applying a controlled resistance or an assistance load to the paretic leg during treadmill training may induce improvements in walking speed in individuals poststroke. Resistance training was not superior to assistance training in improving locomotor function in individuals poststroke.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether providing a controlled resistance versus assistance to the paretic leg at the ankle during treadmill training will improve walking function in individuals poststroke. DESIGN: Repeated assessment of the same patients with parallel design and randomized controlled study between 2 groups. SETTING: Research units of rehabilitation hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=30) with chronic stroke. INTERVENTION: Subjects were stratified based on self-selected walking speed and were randomly assigned to the resistance or assistance training group. For the resistance group, a controlled resistance load was applied to the paretic leg at the ankle to resist leg swing during treadmill walking. For the assistance group, a load that assists swing was applied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were walking speed and 6-minute walking distance. Secondary measures included clinical assessments of balance, muscle tone, and quality of life. Outcome measures were evaluated before and after 6 weeks of training and at 8 weeks' follow-up, and compared within group and between the 2 groups. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of robotic training, walking speed significantly increased for both groups, with no significant differences in walking speed gains observed between the 2 groups. In addition, 6-minute walking distance and balance significantly improved for the assistance group but not for the resistance group. CONCLUSIONS: Applying a controlled resistance or an assistance load to the paretic leg during treadmill training may induce improvements in walking speed in individuals poststroke. Resistance training was not superior to assistance training in improving locomotor function in individuals poststroke.
Authors: Jan Mehrholz; Simone Thomas; Cordula Werner; Joachim Kugler; Marcus Pohl; Bernhard Elsner Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-05-10
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