EFFECTIVENESS OF TREADMILL TRAINING WITH BODY WEIGHT SUPPORT AND STRENGTHENING EXERCISES OF LOWER LIMB ON WALKING ENDURANCE AMONG STROKE PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Stroke is the second most common cause of death due to disability in first world countries. Globally stroke is the main threshold of disability and functional loss, loss of function often leads to decrease walking endurance. Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of treadmill training with body weight support and strengthening exercises of lower limb on walking endurance among stroke patients. Methodology: The study design was a Randomized Control Trial.30 participants were selected, divided in to two groups, 15 in treadmill training with BWS and 15 in strengthening exercises of lower limb group. Outcome measure was walking endurance measured by 6 min walk test. Data was analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences.) version 21. Results: The mean pre and post scores of walking endurance was 189.66 ± 24.38 and 383.00 ± 85.39 in treadmill training with BWS group and 206.66 ± 31.94 and 301.33 ± 51.80 in lower limb strengthening exercises group. Both had p value <0.000.When mean comparison of walking endurance was done between both the group strengthening group showed 94.66 ± 32.86 score with p value <0.00 while in treadmill training with BWS group it jumped to 193.33 ± 79.13 with p value <0.000.
Conclusion: Treadmill training with body weight support is more effective for walking endurance among stroke patients and it can be a choice of treatment for improvement of walking endurance in stroke patients.