Does altering inclination alter effectiveness of treadmill training for gait impairment after stroke? A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a downhill walking training programme is more effective than the same amount of training applied uphill in chronic stroke survivors. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind study. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation service. METHODS: Thirty-eight adults with hemiplegia from stroke lasting more than three months were randomly allocated to one of the two groups: 'UP' - 45 minutes of physical therapy + 30 minutes of treadmill with 5% ascending slope; and 'DOWN' - 45 minutes of physical therapy + 30 minutes of treadmill with 5% descending slope. Both groups were treated 5 times a week for six weeks. Patients were evaluated before treatment, at the end of treatment and after three months. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measure was the number of patients showing an improvement in 6-minute walking test (6MWT) greater than 50 m. Secondary outcome measures were: (1) number of patients showing a clinically relevant improvement of gait speed during 10-m walking test (10mWT); (2) number of patients showing an improvement in timed up and go (TUG) greater than minimal detectable change. RESULTS: Both groups had a significant improvement after treatment and at follow-up. At the end of treatment, compared to UP group, more patients in the DOWN group showed clinically significant improvements in primary and secondary outcomes (16/19 patients for 6MWT, 11/19 patients for 10mWT and 9/19 patients for TUG compared with 3/19, 4/19 and 2/19 patients, respectively, P < 0.01). At follow-up, results were similar except for 10mWT. CONCLUSIONS: In chronic stroke patients, downhill treadmill training produces a bigger effect than uphill training.

Efficacy of a hip flexion assist orthosis in adults with hemiparesis after stroke.

BACKGROUND: During gait, the hip flexors generate 40% of the total power. Nevertheless, no device has been tested extensively for clinical purposes to cope with weakness in the hip flexors in patients with stroke. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a newly developed hip flexion assist orthosis in adult patients with hemiparesis after stroke. DESIGN: The study used a prospective, randomized, before-after trial design. The inclusion criteria were hemiparesis resulting from stroke (onset ≥8 weeks); ability to walk, even if with assistance; and hip flexion weakness (Medical Research Council Scale score ≤4). METHODS: The main outcome measures were the 10-Meter Walk Test and the Six-Minute Walk Test. Patients also were evaluated with the Trunk Control Test, the Functional Ambulation Categories, the Motricity Index, and hip flexor strength on the Medical Research Council Scale. Sixty-two survivors of stroke were tested in random order with and without the orthosis. Any adverse event associated with its use was recorded. RESULTS: Both the Six-Minute Walk Test and the 10-Meter Walk Test scores improved with the use of the orthosis. A significant negative correlation was found for improvement between scores on the 2 main outcome measures with the orthosis and the Functional Ambulation Categories scores. The improvement in Six-Minute Walk Test scores with the orthosis was related inversely to hip flexor strength. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that the use of a hip flexion assist orthosis can improve gait in patients with poststroke hemiparesis, particularly those with more severe walking impairment.