Effectiveness of Backward Walking in the Gait Performance of Stroke Patients
YC01-YC04
Correspondence
Dr. V Kalidasan,
12/1, Sarjapur Road, Chikkabellanur Village, Carmelaram Post, Varthur Hobli,
Bangalore-560035, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: kric@krupanidhi.edu.in
Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading cause of long term disabilities. The most commonly affected activity is walking. Though conventional therapy is producing beneficial effects in the gait of stroke patients, Backward walking is proposed to be effective in improving the gait of stroke patients.
Aim: To examine the effectiveness of backward walking training on gait performance of stroke patients.
Materials and Methods: The study design was an experimental study. Thirty hemiplegic patients were selected by convenient sampling technique and divided into two groups. Subjects in both groups received 40 minutes of conventional training one session per day for two weeks. Subjects in the experimental group received additional backward training for 30 minutes. Gait performance was measured using Wisconsin gait scale. Gait parameters, cadence and walking speed were also measured before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was done using independent ‘t’ test and paired ‘t’ test for between the groups and within the groups respectively.
Results: After four weeks of training period, subjects in the experimental group showed much improvement than those in control group for gait performance (score: 17.42±1.53 versus 22.47±1.52) (p<0.05), walking speed (score: 14.4±2.11 versus 20±0.5) (p<0.05), and cadence (score: 114.6±3.76 versus 97.06±1.61) (p<0.05), all the three variables showing statistical significance.
Conclusion: Backward walking can also be supplemented along with conventional training in improving gait performance, walking speed and cadence of stroke patients.