Comparison of Aquatic Treadmill and Anti-Gravity Treadmill Gait Training to Improve Balance and Gait Abilities in Stroke Patients

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare to aquatic treadmill and anti‐gravity treadmill gait training to improve balance and gait abilities in stroke patients. METHODS: All subjects were randomly divided into three groups where nine subjects were in the aquatic treadmill group, eight subjects in the anti‐gravity treadmill group, and ten subjects in the control group. Subjects in the aquatic treadmill group and the anti‐gravity treadmill group received gait training during 30 minutes, with 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks, and subjects in all groups received conventional physical therapy during 30 minutes, with 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. All subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) and 10‐meter walk test (10MWT) pre and post intervention. RESULTS: Results showed that BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores significantly improved post‐intervention (p < 0.05), and the control group also had significantly improved in all areas pre‐post intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, it has been confirmed that aquatic treadmill group and anti‐gravity treadmill group had significantly improved in BBS, TUG and 10MWT scores compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the comparison between the aquatic treadmill and the anti‐gravity treadmill group. CONCLUSION: Finding of this study suggested that aquatic treadmill and anti‐gravity treadmill improves balance and gait abilities in stroke patients.