Donatas Svirskis, Kristina Bartkienė, Lina Būtėnaitė

Abstract

The aim of research work. Compare different methods of aerobic training effect on stroke patients gait function. A total of 28 stroke subjects (15 men, 13 women) who underwent rehabilitation at Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių clinics, Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine Center in 2014 – 2016 were recruiteed in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. First group received aerobic training with Monark veloergometer. Second group received aerobic training with Biodex Gait Trainer 2 treadmill. Subjects were examined two times: first examination was carries out on arrival at rehabilitation, second after completion of 15 aerobic exercise program. Besides aerobic training, all subjects received a routine individual basic and functional physical therapy which did not included additional aerobic training. To evaluate subjects gait 10 meter walk test, 6 minute walk test, step lengths with affected and intact legs were measured. Results. Walking speed, walking distance and step length with affected leg have significantly (p<0,05) increased during the research. Step length of the intact leg significantly increased (p<0,05) only in second group. Walking speed, walking distance and step lengths with affected and intact legs did not had statistically significant difference between groups after research. The percentage of walking speed change were statistically significant (p<0,05) greater and second group. The change in walking distance were statistically significant higher in second group (p<0,05). Also the change in step length of the intact leg were statistically significant (p<0,05) greater in second group. Conclusions. The results showed that both aerobic training methods significantly improved walking speed, walking distance in 6 minutes and step length of the affected leg. Intact leg step length significantly improved only in second group. Results of changes in measurments between groups have shown that aerobic training with treadmill more effectively improves walking speed, walking distance and step length of the intact leg in stroke patients than aerobic training with veloergometer.

Keyword(s): stroke; gait; treadmill; veloergometer.
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2016.042
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