The purpose of this study is to determine if treadmill training combined with thera-band resistance to body support and forward propulsion would be more effective than treadmill training alone in improving over-ground walking ability and reducing energy cost in chronic stroke patients. This study will also characterize the neuromuscular and kinematic strategies to adapt to resisted treadmill walking in non-impaired adults and stroke patients.
This study includes chronic stroke patients who will be randomly assigned to treadmill training combined with thera-band or treadmill training alone group to receive 30 min per session, 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks walking training . Functional balance (Berg Balance Scale), gait characteristics during preferred and maximal speed level walking, and oxygen uptake during 5-minute bouts of treadmill walking will be assessed before and after training and at 2-month follow-up. Clinical sensorimotor function assessment, including hand grip strength, plantar sensitivity, stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement and Fugl-Meyer lower extremity motor scale will also be conducted for subject characterization.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
Treadmill walking training with thera-band Treadmill walking training without thera-band
National Cheng Kung University
Tainan, Taiwan
RECRUITINGstride characteristics
Wearable movement sensors will be used to measure walking speed, stride length and time, and gait cycle. Ground reaction forces during walking. A force platform will be used to measure ground reaction forces and center of pressure.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Walking oxygen uptake
A Ultima Cordi 02 machine will be used to measure VO2 during 5-minute bouts of treadmill walking.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Balance
Berg Balance scale Minimum scale = 0 Maximum scale = 56 Higher scores indicate better functional balance.
Time frame: 8 weeks
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