A comparison of the immediate effects of the Andago over ground body weight support trainer versus over ground walking on selected gait parameters in a post-acute rehabilitation population.

BACKGROUND

The Andago is an electromechanical gait trainer providing dynamic body weight support while simultaneously enabling over ground walking. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the Andago with over ground walking on selected gait parameters, during a single gait reeducation session in a post-acute rehabilitation population.

METHODS

Twenty-seven participants (mean age 78 yrs. (SD = 9.2), female 55.6% (n = 15)) undergoing rehabilitation for neurological (51.8%, n = 14), orthopedic (33.3%, n = 9), and medical conditions (14.8%, n = 4) completed the study. This was a single group, cross sectional, repeated measures study. Participants completed a 10-meter walk test (10MWT) and a 20-minute gait reeducation session under two conditions: i) harnessed in the Andago with body weight support or ii) using their normal walking pattern. Walking speed, steps taken, distance walked, rest breaks, Borg ratings of perceived exertion, and fear of falling were compared over both conditions.

RESULTS

Walking speed was significantly slower with the Andago (10MWT mean difference 0.12 (95% CI 0.03-0.20), eta squared 0.24, p = .008; 20-min gait mean difference 0.04 (95% CI 0.00-0.09), eta squared 0.15, p = .049). During the 20-minute gait reeducation session, step count, distance walked, and duration of walking was similar over both conditions, however participants recorded less rest breaks and fear of falling at minutes 10 and 20 in favor of the Andago.

CONCLUSION

Gait parameters measured during a single gait reeducation session in the Andago, in a mixed cohort of predominately older rehabilitation patients, appear comparable to conventional over ground training, other than walking speed which was reduced.