EFFECT OF GAIT TRAINING ON GAIT PARAMETERS AND BALANCE IN STROKE REHABILITATION

Abstract

Background: Stroke is one of the main causes of long-term impairment. It typically causes problems with walking and balance, which makes it harder to be independent and raises the chance of falling. Gait therapy, especially when it includes neuromuscular methods, may help people recover better after a stroke.

Objective: To determine the impact of gait training on gait performance and balance improvements in stroke survivors.

Methodology: A single-center randomized controlled trial was carried out among 99 post-stroke patients who were randomly assigned to three intervention groups (n = 33 each): Gait Training with Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (GT + PNF), Gait Training with Conventional Therapy (GT + CT), and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation combined with Conventional Therapy (PNF + CT). All groups were treated with organized therapy sessions three times a week for six weeks. Primary measures were gait function measured through the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) and balance measured through the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Measurements were taken at baseline, mid-treatment (3rd week), and after treatment (6th week). Statistical analysis was conducted through mixed-model ANOVA to examine time × group interactions, followed by post-hoc tests to identify between-group differences. Significance level of p < 0.05 was used in all analyses.

Results: The GT + PNF group showed significant improvements, with WGS scores decreasing from 53.55 to 17.82 and BBS scores increasing from 42.27 to 65.18 (p < 0.001). A significant group × time interaction was found for both WGS (F = 13.1, η² = 0.22) and BBS (F = 7.33, η² = 0.13). Compared to other groups, GT + PNF showed improved outcomes in gait speed and postural balance. A negative correlation (r = -0.32) was observed between WGS and BBS, indicating interdependence.

Conclusion: Gait training integrated with PNF significantly improves gait performance and balance in stroke survivors.  These findings corroborate the therapeutic efficacy of incorporating neuromuscular facilitation into task-specific training for optimum rehabilitation.