Ann Rehabil Med.  2022 Jun;46(3):114-121. 10.5535/arm.22034.

Effect of Antigravity Treadmill Gait Training on Gait Function and Fall Risk in Stroke Patients

• Oh K
• Im N
• Lee Y
• Lim N
• Cho T
• Ryu S
• Yoon S

• KMID: 2531282
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.22034

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the effect of antigravity treadmill gait training (AGT) on gait function, balance, and fall risk in stroke patients.
Methods
This study included 30 patients with stroke (mean age, 73 years). All subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group (n=15) performed AGT for 20 minutes, five times per week for 4 weeks. The control group (n=15) received conventional gait training for the same duration. To assess fall risk, the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) was measured. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and 10-m walk test (10mWT) were measured to assess dynamic balance. All scales were measured before intervention (T0) and at 4 weeks (T1) and 12 weeks (T2) after intervention.
Results
Results showed that the total POMA score, BBS, and 10mWT scores improved significantly (p<0.05) at T1 and T2 in both groups. The POMA gait score (4.20±1.37 at T1, 4.87±1.36 at T2) and TUG (4.52±4.30 at T1, 5.73±4.97 at T2) significantly improved (p<0.05) only in the intervention group. The changes in total POMA score and BBS of the intervention group (7.20±2.37, 7.47±3.07) improved more significantly (p<0.05) between T0 and T2 than the control group (2.53±2.10, 2.87±2.53).
Conclusion
Our study showed that AGT enhances dynamic balance and gait speed and effectively lowers fall risk in stroke patients. Compared to conventional gait therapy, AGT would improve gait function and balance in stroke patients more effectively.

Keyword

Antigravity treadmill; Gait; Falls; Stroke; Balance

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Antigravity treadmill device. The device (Via model; AlterG Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) consists of a treadmill enclosed by a waist-high chamber, an air compressor that controls the internal pressure, and a monitoring screen.

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  Fig. 2. Structure of antigravity treadmill device. The air compressor increases the pressure inside the chamber above the atmospheric pressure, and the resulting pressure differential generates a buoyant force, thereby reducing the patient's weight load inside the chamber.

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  Fig. 3. Changes in the outcome measures: (A) POMA (balance), (B) POMA (gait), and (C) POMA (total). POMA (gait) scores in the intervention group at T1 and T2 improved significantly compared to the control group. POMA (total) scores in the intervention group at T2 improved significantly compared to the control group. *p<0.05, between the intervention and control group by repeated measures ANOVA (contrast). AGT, antigravity treadmill gait training; POMA, Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment; T0, before the intervention; T1, 4 weeks after training; T2, 12 weeks after training.

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  Fig. 4. Changes in the outcome measures: (A) BBS, (B) TUG and (C) 10mWT. TUG in the intervention group at T1 and T2 improved significantly compared to the control group. BBS scores in intervention group at T2 improved significantly compared to the control group. *p<0.05, comparison between intervention group and control group by repeatedmeasures ANOVA (contrast). AGT, antigravity treadmill gait training; BBS, Berg Balance Scale; TUG, Timed Up and Go test; 10mWT, 10-m walk test; T0, before the intervention; T1, 4 weeks after training; T2, 12 weeks after training.

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