The effects of using a walking support band on the gait of stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the effect of using a walking support band on the gait of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a walking support band group ( n=20), an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) group ( n=20) and a conventional rehabilitation group ( n=20). All three groups received conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the AFO group members were additionally provided with an ankle-foot orthosis and the walking support band group members received training wearing a walking support band. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, all three groups were evaluated using three-dimensional gait analysis. Results:A total of 57 patients finished the study. After the interventions, the average step speed, frequency and step length of the three groups had all increased significantly, while the average stride width, the percentage of double stance phase, unaffected and affected side stance phase, and the ratio between unaffected and affected side stance phase had all decreased significantly. After the intervention, the average step speed, frequency and length of the AFO and walking support band groups had increased significantly compared with the conventional rehabilitation group, while the average stride width of the AFO group, and the stride width, the percentage of double stance phase and unaffected side stance phase of the walking support band group had decreased significantly. After the treatment, the average percentages of double stance phase and unaffected side stance phase of the walking support band group had decreased significantly more than in the AFO group.Conclusions:A walking support band can significantly improve the abnormal gait of stroke survivors and is superior to an ankle-foot orthosis when combined with conventional rehabilitation therapy.