Article

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.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS