earticle

영어

This study aimed to identify the effects of task-oriented gait program including backward walking on gait and balance in patients with chronic stroke. Twenty subjects with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects of the experimental group (EG) experienced a task-oriented walking program including backward walking for an average 30 minutes, four times per week for four weeks (a total of 16 sessions), while subjects in the control group (CG) performed forward walking training for same duration. Outcome measures were stride length, 10 meter walk test (10MWT), timed up and go (TUG), Berg balance scale (BBS), and limit of stability (LOS), and measurements were performed at pre- and post-test. This findiings suggest that task-oriented walking programs including backward walking, may be beneficial to improve the walking and balance in chronic stroke patients. Further research should warrant our findings.