The Effectiveness of Assisted Thera-band Resistance Exercises on Improving the Swing Phase of Gait in Hemiplegic Patients

Abstract

Hemiplegic patients typically present with an inability to perform ankle dorsiflexion & knee flexion during the swing phase of their gait cycle. This results in the circumduction of the affected lower limb with limitation of their walking abilities and daily functions. Improving their dorsiflexion of ankle & knee flexion in their gait circle is a main key role of their rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare and measure the effects of thera-band elastic resistance gait training with conventional physiotherapy gait training. This study used a randomized control interventional study design. Sixty (n=60), 3 to 5 months post-stroke male patients, aged between 45 - 55 years were recruited. These 60 patients then randomly assigned to either the control or the intervention group. Patients were then assessed according to the Wisconsin gait scale (WGS) at baseline. The control group was involved in conventional gait training while the intervention group was involved in thera-band resistance gait training. All study samples were assessed again after two months. All of them scored greater than the median WGS score (>28) at baseline. There were significant differences (P<0.01) within the control and intervention group following gait training programs. The intervention group showed greater mean change (mean change 10.7700, standard deviation SD 4.596) than the control group (mean change 1.6967, SD 1.4534). Mean difference between both groups was significant [mean change -9.0733, (P<0.01)]. Both the conventional gait training and thera-band resistance gait training were effective for hemiplegic patients in improving their independence during activities of daily living. However, the findings from this study suggest that assisted thera-band resistance gait training program may be superior to the conventional gait training to become recover in a shortest time period.