Article

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of gait training with distinct glide-symmetric
visual feedback cues, adapted to the geometry of human locomotion, to the effects of training with visual cues of no distinct symmetry, on the walking abilities of
subjects with gait disorders due to multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Ten
patients trained with transverse lines while 11 patients trained with
checkerboard tiles, both provided by a wearable virtual reality device. Baseline
performance (walking speed and stride length along a 10 m straight track) was measured before device use. Following 20 min training with the device and 10 min
rest, performance without the device was measured again and compared to the
baseline performance. RESULTS: The average improvement in the group using the
visual cue of transverse lines was 7.79% +/- 4.24% in walking speed and 7.20% +/-
3.92% in stride length. The average improvement in the group using the visual cue
of checkerboard tiles was 21.09% +/- 18.39% in walking speed and 12.99% +/- 1.72%
in stride length. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with gait disorders due to MS, training
with a glide-symmetric visual feedback cue, showed a significantly higher
improvement in their gait parameters than patients training with a visual
feedback cue of no without distinct symmetry.

Langue : ANGLAIS