Efficacy of overground type body weight support walker in gait speed for people with hemiparesis after stroke

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the immediate effect of gait training with overground type body weight support （BWS） walker on the gait speed of people with hemiparesis after stroke. Methods: Twenty-five people with hemiparesis after stroke in the recovery phase were included in the study. The gait training conditions were normal gait training condition （Normal gait）, the non-body weight support gait training condition （NBWS gait）, or the body weight support gait training condition （BWS gait） each randomly performed for 10 minutes one day. Gait was measured before and after each gait training, and parameters such as comfortable gait speed, step length, stride length, cadence, double support or single support phase, and gait symmetry were evaluated. Each parameter was compared before and after the intervention and between conditions. Results: An interaction effect was observed for parameters such as comfortable gait speed, non-paretic step length, and stride length, which increased significantly after BWS gait. In addition, there was an interaction effect on the double support phase in the paretic terminal stance phase and the double support phase symmetry, both of which increased significantly after normal gait and NBWS gait. Conclusion: Intervention with overground type BWS walker for people with hemiparesis after stroke can immediately improve the subject's gait speed and related parameters.