Article

This study investigated how stroke patients improve the walking patterns by using
the Elastic Walking Band, which was included with a long elastic band and four
pierced plastics as fixed points. Fifteen patients with stroke were recruited.
Participants were nine males and six females. Gait parameters were measured with
the GAITRite system to analyze the spatial and temporal parameters of walking by
stroke patients. The Elastic Walking Band had no significance in cadence, swing
time and stance on both limbs. However, the Elastic Walking Band significantly
improved velocity in stroke patients. Furthermore, there was a significant
difference in step length of the less-affected limb between the two conditions,
but no significant difference in the affected side. When the patients walked with
the Elastic Walking Band, affected and less-affected stride length were also
significantly increased as compared with barefoot walking. There were significant
differences of velocity, less-affected step length, both stride length between
walking with and without the Elastic Walking Band. Consequently, the Elastic Walking Band can be used as an assistive walking device that is lighter and less
expensive for stroke patient gait training in the clinic.

Langue : ANGLAIS