Effects of Treadmill Gait Training With Loading in Individuals With Stroke

Effects of Treadmill Gait Training With Adding Load on Lower Limb of Individuals With Stroke

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the add load on non-paretic lower limb of individuals that suffer a stroke, while walking on a treadmill, is effective for restore gait symmetry of these individuals, in a subacute phase of stroke.

This is a randomized and blinded clinical trial, in which participants are being randomly divided into experimental group and control group, in order to verify the effects of adding load on gait symmetry after stroke. 40 individuals will participate, and the calculation of sample size was performed from the ratio variable symmetry of swing time, based on previous study. Whereas about 15% of individuals could give up to participate in the study during their course (dropout rate), we determined a number of 20 participants in each group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• First episode of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) which determined unilateral hemiparesis
• Time of lesion less one year
• Able to walk independently by 10 feet on flat surface without the use of assistive devices
• Gait speed less than 0.8 m / s
• Ability to understand and obey simple commands

Exclusion Criteria:

• Instability of cardiac conditions
• Adverse clinical conditions affecting balance and / or gait
• Pain and / or severe discomfort that impede the realization of the proposed activities
• Decompensation in systemic blood pressure, with the systolic and diastolic values above 200 mmHg and 110 mmHg, respectively, before and / or after training
• Submaximal heart rate above the allowed values during training