Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the longer-term effects of electromechanical gait trainers
(GTs) combined with conventional physiotherapy on health status, function, and
ambulation in people with subacute stroke in comparison with conventional
physiotherapy given alone. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with
intention-to-treat analysis. SETTING: Community hospital in Singapore.
PARTICIPANTS: Nonambulant individuals (N=106) recruited approximately 1 month
poststroke. INTERVENTIONS: Both groups received 45 minutes of physiotherapy 6
times per week for 8 weeks as follows: the GT group received 20 minutes of GT
training and 5 minutes of stance/gait training in contrast with 25 minutes of
stance/gait training for the control group. Both groups completed 10 minutes of
standing and 10 minutes of cycling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome
was the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). Secondary outcomes were the Barthel
Index (BI), gait speed and endurance, and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Measures
were taken at baseline and 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 weeks. RESULTS: Generalized
linear model analysis showed significant improvement over time (independent of
group) for the FAC, BI, and SIS physical and participation subscales. However, no
significant group x time or group differences were observed for any of the
outcome variables after generalized linear model analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The use
of GTs combined with conventional physiotherapy can be as effective as
conventional physiotherapy applied alone for people with subacute stroke.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS