Research Article
Efficacy of the Gait Training Using Footpad-Type Locomotion Interface in Chronic Post-Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study
Naoki Tanaka1,2*, Hiroaki Yano3 and Hisako Yanagi21Department of Rehabilitation, Tsukuba Memorial Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan
2Department of Medical Science and Welfare, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
3Department of Intelligent Interaction Technologies, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- Corresponding Author:
- Naoki Tanaka
Department of Rehabilitation
Tsukuba Memorial Hospital
Kaname 1187-299, Tsukuba-shi
Ibaraki-ken 305, Japan
Tel: 81/29-864-1212
E-mail: naoking1594@gmail.com
Received Date: July 11, 2017; Accepted Date: July 20, 2017; Published Date: July 22, 2017
Citation: Tanaka N, Yano H, Yanagi H (2017) Efficacy of the Gait Training Using Footpad-Type Locomotion Interface in Chronic Post-Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study. J Nov Physiother 7:355. doi:10.4172/2165-7025.1000355
Copyright: © 2017 Tanaka N, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Purpose: In recent years, robotics have been used for rehabilitation. We developed a footpad-type locomotion interface using robot technology, and we reported improvement on gait speed and muscle strength. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gait training using a footpad-type locomotion interface (GTLI) with those of body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT).
Methods: Eleven chronic post-stroke patients participated in this study. The subjects received GTLI and BWSTT respectively three times a week for a total of 12 times. The outcome measures were maximum gait speed, timed up and go test, and isometric muscle strengths of both hip and knee flexion and extension
Result: No differences were observed in the gait speed and timed up and go test among GTLI and BWSTT. In isometric muscle strengths, GTLI improved better than BWSTT.
Conclusion: These results suggest that GTLI and BWST have similar effects on improving the gait and balance abilities. In addition, GTLI is more effective in improving the isometric muscle strength of hip extension and knee flexion than using BWSTT.