Abstract
Modem concepts of gait rehabilitation after stroke favor a task-specific repeti tive approach. In practice, the required physical effort of the therapists limits the re alization of this approach. Therefore, a mechanized gait trainer enabling nonambula tory patients to have the repetitive practice of a gait-like movement without overstraining therapists was constructed. This preliminary study investigated whether an additional 4-week daily therapy on the gait trainer could improve gait ability in 14 chronic wheelchair-bound hemiparetic subjects. The 4 weeks of physiotherapy and gait-trainer therapy resulted in a relevant improvement of gait ability in all subjects. Velocity, cadence, and stride length improved significantly (p < 0.01). The kinesio logic electromyogram of selected lower-limb muscles revealed a more physiologic pat tern. The confounding influence of spontaneous recovery, the lack of a control group, and the double amount of therapy limit the clinical relevance of this study. Never theless, the gait trainer seems feasible as an adjunctive tool in gait rehabilitation after stroke; further studies are needed. Key Words: Qait trainer—Hemiparesis—Stroke— Treadmill training—Electromyography.