Usefulness of the Walking Rehabilitation Support Tool “Tree” to Improve the Walking Distances and Ability of Patients with Post-stroke Hemiplegia

Abstract

[Purpose] To confirm the usefulness of the walking rehabilitation support tool “Tree” to improve the walking distances and ability of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. [Participants and Methods] Six patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were studied, adopting a between-subject multiple baseline AB design. The duration of the study was 15 days, which were divided into Period A for general walking training and Period B for walking training using “Tree”. The distance walked and MET during 20-minute walking training and the speed, step length, and cadence when walking 10 m after training were measured in each patient. [Results] There were significant increases in the walking distance, walking speed, and step length during Period B compared with A, but neither the MET nor cadence significantly varied between the 2 periods. [Conclusion] “Tree” may be useful to improve the walking distances of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia during walking training and their step lengths and walking speeds after it.