The effect of body weight supported treadmill training and muscle tone on motor function of lower extremi-ties of stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of body weight supported treadmill training ( BWSTT) on func-tion of lower extremities in stroke survivors, and analyze the influence of quadriceps femoris muscle tone on the thera-peutic effect of BWSTT. Methods Thirty-six stroke survivors were randomly divided into a BWSTT group and a conventional therapy group ( CT group) according to a random number table, each of 18. Both groups were given rou-tine rehabilitation training, while the BWSTT group was additionally provided with BWSTT for 4 weeks. Before and af-ter the treatment, Fugl-Meyer assessment for lower extremity (FMMS-LE), Berg balance scale (BBS) and Holden walking function rating scale ( Holden) were used to assess the motor function of lower extremities, balance function and walking ability of both groups. Meanwhile, the patients in BWSTT group were further divided into a mild-spasm subgroup and a seriously-spasm subgroup according to the modified Ashworth scale assessment result of quadriceps muscle, and the results of their efficacy indexes were further compared. Results No significant difference was found in the average FMMS-LE, Berg and Holden scores between the BWSTT group and CT group before the treat-ment ( P>0.05) . However, significantly improvement was found in all the above measurements of both groups after the treatment ( P<0.05) . Further comparison found that the FMMS score of the lower extremities and Holden grading in the BWSTT group improved more significantly compared with the CT group ( P<0.05) , while no significant differ-ences were found in the Berg score between the two groups ( P>0.05) . The change of FMMS (△FMMS) and Holden (△Holden) after treatment in the mild-spasm subgroup increased more significantly compared with those in the seri-ously-spasm subgroup, but no significant differences were observed regarding the change of Berg (△Berg) between the two subgroups. Conclusions BWSTT can significantly improve the motor function of lower extremities, balance function and walking ability of stroke survivors. However, hypertone of quadriceps femoris might have adverse effects on the therapeutic effect of BWSTT.