Comparison of Aquatic Treadmill and Anti-Gravity Treadmill Gait Training to Improve Balance and Gait Abilities in Stroke Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare to aquatic treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill gait training to improve balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. METHODS: All subjects were randomly divided into three groups where nine subjects were in the aquatic treadmill group, eight subjects in the anti-gravity treadmill group, and ten subjects in the control group. Subjects in the aquatic treadmill group and the anti-gravity treadmill group received gait training during 30 minutes, with 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks, and subjects in all groups received conventional physical therapy during 30 minutes, with 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) and 10-meter walk test (10MWT) pre and post intervention. RESULTS: Results showed that BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores significantly improved post-intervention (p < 0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved in all areas pre-post intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that aquatic treadmill group and anti-gravity treadmill group had significantly improved in BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the comparison between the aquatic treadmill and the anti-gravity treadmill group. CONCLUSION: Finding of this study suggested that aquatic treadmill and anti-gravity treadmill improves balance and gait abilities in stroke patients.