Effects of Thera-Band® elastic resistance-assisted gait training in stroke patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND In stroke patients, it is difficult to manually assist dorsi-flexion during the normal gait cycle as it is a distal component. Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to simultaneously guard the patient and manually assist dorsi-flexion during the swing phase of gait. However, one of the key benefits of Thera-Band® Elastic Resistance-Assisted Gait Training is that it offers distal control of lower extremity during the normal gait sequence without jeopardizing patient safety. AIM Aim of this study was to compare and measure the effects of Thera-Band® Elastic Resistance-Assisted Gait Training in stroke patients with respect to quality of gait and functional mobility. DESIGN This was a pilot study. SETTING The study was carried out at the Occupational Therapy Department, Mumbai, India. POPULATION The study included 16 patients aged between 30-60 years with first episode of stroke or subacute stroke. METHODS Following informed consent, as per inclusion criteria patients were randomly assigned in two groups: 1) control group: Conventional Occupational Therapy Intervention and Conventional Gait Training; 2) experimental group: Conventional Occupational Therapy and Thera-Band® Elastic Resistance Assisted Gait Training. Patients were assessed on: 1) Wisconsin Gait Scale; 2) Rivermead Mobility Index. Patients were reassessed as done initially at the end of third and sixth week. Patients received therapy three times a week for six weeks. RESULTS Each group separately was associated with statistically significant improvement in quality of gait (P<0.001) as well as functional mobility (P<0.001). Thera-Band® Elastic Resistance-Assisted Gait Training had a more positive effect on improving the quality of gait, functional mobility in a short duration as compared to the conventional gait training. CONCLUSION The use of Thera-Band® Elastic Resistance-Assisted Gait Training contributed to faster recovery as compared to the control group. Functionally patients showed improvement as compared to conventional therapy. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT Thera-Band® Elastic Resistance-Assisted Gait Training facilitates dorsi-flexion during a single cycle of swing.