Effects of Gait Training Using a Shoulder-Back Orthosis on Balance and Gait in Patients with Stroke

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of this study is to find out how gait training with shoulder-back assistive device affects dynamic and static balance, gait of patients with stroke and to help improve body alignment, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients. @*Methods@#Measurements were taken of the 20 subjects before intervention without shoulder-back assistive device, after intervention with device, and follow up after an hour compared. Berg balance scale used to evaluate dynamic balance; wii balance board was used to measure static balance; and gait ability were measured by timed up and go test and 10-meter walk test. To analyze the results, a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was implemented to compare the measurements. @*Results@#The results showed that, after wearing the shoulder-back assistive device, the subjects’ dynamic balance statistically significantly improved; no statistically significant difference was observed in static balance, although their balance ability was enhanced; and their increase in gait ability was statistically significant. @*Conclusion@#This study proved that gait training combined with a shoulder-back assistive device positively impacted dynamic and static balance, gait of patients with stroke.