The Effect of Treadmill and Body Weight Support Treadmill Training on Balance and Gait Ability inHemiplegia Patients with Subacute Stroke

The purpose of this study is to investigate and to verification of changes that the effect of treadmill and body weight support treadmill training on balance and gait ability for sub-acute stroke patients. 16 subjects who was diagnosed stroke were divided into 2 groups(8-treadmill training group, 8-body weight support treadmill group) by randomized control trial. Both training programs were consisted with 40 minuted, 5 times a week for 4 weeks and after training programs, we analysed effects and changes on balance and gait ability. The result were reported as mean±standard deviation(S.D.) and significance was set at p<.05. Both training programs showed positive changes in Limit of Stability but significant results which is area of hemiside, area of intact side, area of posterior, total area were reported in body weight support treadmill training group. Changes of Berg Balance Scale was significantly increase and it had significant correlation between groups. Changes of 6 Minutes Walking Test was significant increase in both groups. After considering all factors, both training programs showed effect on improvement of balance and gait ability in sub-acute stroke patients, but body weight support treadmill training group had better improvement in dynamic balance than treadmill training group. For the increase of balance and gait ability in sub-acted stroke patients, we need to continues study on difference of treadmill.