Gait Training of Patients After Stroke Using an Electromechanical Gait Trainer Combined With Simultaneous Functional Electrical Stimulation

• Published in: Physical therapy Vol. 86; no. 9; pp. 1282 - 1294
• Main Authors: Tong, Raymond K Y, Ng, Maple F W, Li, Leonard S W, So, Elaine F M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physical Therapy Association 01.09.2006; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aged; Care and treatment; Case studies; Disability Evaluation; Electric currents; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Exercise Therapy - instrumentation; Exercise Therapy - methods; Feasibility Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Gait; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - physiopathology; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - rehabilitation; Humans; Intervention; Male; Middle Aged; Paralysis; Paresis - physiopathology; Paresis - rehabilitation; Patients; Physical fitness; Physical therapy; Postural Balance - physiology; Stroke; Stroke - physiopathology; Stroke patients; Stroke Rehabilitation; Training; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Treatment Outcome; United States
• ISSN: 0031-9023; 1538-6724
• DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20050183

This case report describes the implementation of gait training intervention that used an electromechanical gait trainer with simultaneous functional electrical stimulation (FES) for 2 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Two individuals with post-stroke hemiplegia of less than 6 weeks' duration participated in a 4-week gait training program as an adjunct to physical therapy received at a hospital. After the 4-week intervention, both patients were discharged from the hospital, and they returned after 6 months for a follow-up evaluation. By the end of the 4-week intervention, both patients had shown improvements in scores on the Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Ambulation Categories Scale, 5-m timed walking test, and Motricity Index. In the 6-month follow-up evaluation, both patients continued to have improvements in all outcome measures. This case report shows that, following the use of an electromechanical gait trainer simultaneously with FES, patients after acute stroke had improvements in gait performance, functional activities, balance, and motor control in the long term.