Effects of Ground Level Gait Training With Body Weight Support (BWS) and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gait training on ground level, combining BWS and FES in people following chronic stroke.

Detailed Description
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The body weight support system (BWS) associated to a treadmill as well as to a functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the common peroneal nerve, has been proposed as a strategy for gait training in people following stroke. Moreover, it has also considered that the ground level is the most common locomotion surface, and that there is little information about the effects of gait training, on this kind of surface, in people with hemiparesis.

Official Title
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Ground-level Gait Training Combining Body Weight Support and Functional Electrical Stimulation in People Following Chronic Stroke

Conditions
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Hemiparesis, Stroke

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: gait training on ground level using BWS
* Device: gait training on ground level using BWS associated to FES


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Elapsed time since stroke longer than 6 months Spasticity classified under level 3 according to the Modified Ashworth Scale The ability to walk classified at levels 2, 3 or 4 according to the Functional Ambulation Category Exclusion Criteria: Heart failure, angina pectoris, arrhythmias and other cardiovascular diseases Severe lung disease Orthopedic disorders Cognitive deficits

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 40 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: hemiparetic gait<br>gait training on ground level | Device: gait training on ground level using BWS<br>* An A1-B-A2 system was applied in which A1 and A2 corresponded to gait training on ground level using Body Weight Support (BWS). Each training phase was performed during 45 minutes, three times a week, for six weeks.<br>Device: gait training on ground level using BWS associated to FES<br>* An A1-B-A2 system was applied in which B corresponded to the training associated to Functional Electrical Stimulation. Each training phase was performed during 45 minutes, three times a week, for six weeks.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| kinematic evaluation | Participants were assessed walking freely at a comfortable self-selected speed before and after each training phase. The analyzed variables were: mean walking speed of locomotion; step length; stride length, speed and duration; initial and final double support duration; single-limb support duration; swing period; range of motion (ROM), maximum and minimum angles of foot, leg, thigh, and trunk segments of both paretic and nonparetic limbs. | 4 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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kinematic, hemiparesis, gait, Body weight support, Functional electrical stimulation