Affiliations: Institute of Physiotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Justyna Wyszyńska, Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszow, ul. Kopisto 2 a, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland. Tel.: +48 178721153; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of age, time from stroke onset, gender and side of paresis in gait re-education with the use of treadmill with biofeedback, in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: The study was performed with a group of 50 patients. 10-metre walk test, 2-minute walk test, “Up and Go” test, the number of steps performed with the paretic lower limb at a distance of 10 metres, Barthel index and FIM scale were used to assess the effects of rehabilitation. RESULTS: The study shows that the subjects’ abilities and fitness prior to the rehabilitation were not related to age, sex or side of paresis. Analysis of the impact of age, time from stroke and sex on rehabilitation outcomes showed no statistically significant correlations. On the other hand, analysis of rehabilitation results relative to the side of paresis showed that the latter factor significantly differentiates rehabilitation outcomes measured with gait velocity test – p= 0.045. CONCLUSION: Age, duration of time from stroke onset, and sex do not affect outcomes of gait re-education based on treadmill training in patients at a chronic stage post-stroke and Brunnstrom recovery stage 3–4. Side of paresis significantly differentiates rehabilitation outcomes measured with speed test. The best scores in all the performance measures before rehabilitation were identified in the group 3–6 years after stroke.
Keywords: Stroke, gait, treadmill, age, sex, side of paresis
