The Effects of Lower Extremitiy Muscle Strengthening Exercise and Treadmill Walking Exercise on the Gait and Balance of Stroke Patients

[Purpose] We investigated the effect of lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise and treadmill walking exercise on the gait and balance of stroke patients. [Subjects] The subjects were 44 stroke patients and they were randomly assigned to the lower extremity muscle strengthening group (MSG, n=24) and the treadmill walking group (TWG, n=20). [Methods] Both groups performed the exercises 3 times a week for 6 weeks in addition to general physical therapy. Walking ability was evaluated using the 10 m walking test and the timed up-and-go test (TUG), and balance ability was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and a balance performance monitor (BPM). [Results] There was no difference between the groups in the 10 m walking test and TUG with respect to walking ability, but walking ability was significantly improved after the exercise in each group when compared to before the exercise. [Conclusion] It was found that both the lower extremity muscle strengthening exercise and the treadmill walking exercise helped the stroke patients to improve their walking ability, but it is hard to decide which exercise is more effective.