STROKE-MOBILITY INTERVENTIONS, TASK SPECIFIC TREADMILL TRAINING
SUMMARY
1. Treadmill training without body weight support can be used when standard over-ground gait training is not available or appropriate.
2. The evidence however, does not support treadmill training as necessarily more effective than standard gait training.
3. There is strong evidence that treadmill training either in combination with conventional therapy or delivered alone, may improve gait velocity, stride length and lower limb functional mobility; however, it may not improve balance.
4. The evidence of PBWS and treadmill training is mixed, requires equipment and can be therapist intensive.
5. There is strong evidence that partial body weight support treadmill training may not improve gait or balance outcomes compared to conventional or other gait training interventions based on the most definitive trial, the LEAPs trial[1]
. Treatment does require equipment and is labour intensive.
6. PBWSTT can be considered for patients with low ambulatory function especially when other mobility strategies are inappropriate or unsafe.
Reference(s)
- ↑ Duncan, P. W., Sullivan, K. J., Behrman, A. L., Azen, S. P., Wu, S. S., Nadeau, S. E., . . . Cen, S. (2011). Body-weight–supported treadmill rehabilitation after stroke. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(21), 2026-2036.
Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.
