A Biofeedback Cycling Training to Improve Locomotion: A Case Series Study Based on Gait Pattern Classification of 153 Chronic Stroke Patients
By Ferrante, Simona; Ambrosini, Emilia; Ravelli, Paola; Guanziroli, Eleonora; Molteni, Franco; Ferrigno, Giancarlo; Pedrocchi, Alessandra; Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, Volume 8, Number 47Publication Date: August 24, 2011
Case series study explored the feasibility of a biofeedback pedaling treatment and its effects on cycling and walking ability in chronic stroke patients. Participants were recruited based on a gait pattern classification of a population of 153 chronic stroke patients, and 3 participants, 2 men and 1 woman representative of each category, were included in the study. Training consisted of a 2 week treatment of 6 sessions using the THERA-live motorized cycle ergometer. Visual biofeedback was provided displaying the values of the biofeedback indices through a graphical interface viewed on a slave PC. The visual biofeedback helped participants in maintaining a symmetrical contribution of the two legs during pedaling. Participants were assessed before and after training and at follow up one week post treatment. Outcome measures were the unbalance during a pedaling test and the temporal, spatial, and symmetry parameters during gait analysis. An intra-subject analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that all patients significantly decreased the pedaling unbalance after treatment and maintained significant improvements with respect to baseline at follow up. The treatment induced some modifications in the gait pattern of two of the participants, of whom the most impaired significantly improved mean velocity and increased gait symmetry and the other one significantly reduced the overcompensation of the healthy limb. No benefits were produced in the gait of the third participant, who maintained her slow but almost symmetrical pattern.
Published by: BioMed Central Ltd (Website:http://www.biomedcentral.com)
Link to text: http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/pdf/1743-0003-8-47.pdf
