Effects of a gait training session combined with a mass on the non-paretic lower limb on locomotion of hemiparetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

Results of recent studies have suggested that restraint of non-paretic lower limb movement could improve locomotion in hemiplegic patients. The aim of this study was therefore to determine if a mass applied to the non-paretic lower limb during a single gait training session (GTS) would specifically improve spatio-temporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters (GP) of the paretic lower limb.

METHODS

Sixty chronic hemiplegic subjects were included in this randomized study. Each participated in one of four GTS conditions: overground or on a treadmill while wearing or not wearing an ankle mass. All subjects were assessed before, immediately after and 20 min after the end of the GTS using 3D gait analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed that restraining the non-paretic lower limb during a GTS had no specific effect on GP of the paretic limb, whereas it increased braking force of the non-paretic limb.

CONCLUSION

Restraining the non-paretic lower limb of hemiparetic patients with a mass applied to the ankle does not seem to be an effective approach to improve paretic lower limb parameters during a single GTS.