Gait analysis in patients with cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage walking with a body weight-supported walker

Background: There is increasing recognition of the effectiveness of body weight-supported (BWS) walkers for stroke patients with hemiplegia. However, it is unclear whether the effectiveness of BWS walkers is because of the walker alone or the combined effect of the walker and body weight support. Objective: We aimed to determine whether there are differences between normal, walker, and BWS walker gaits in patients after cerebral infarction (CI) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Twenty-one stroke patients with hemiplegia underwent trials under three gait conditions: normal, walker, and BWS walker gait. Spatiotemporal parameters and joint kinematics during walking were calculated using a three-dimensional motion analyzer. We further examined differences in effects depending on CI and ICH. Results: Speed and cadence improved in the walker gait and BWS gait groups compared with the normal gait group. In addition, the percentage of the stance and swing phases was improved in BWS walker gait compared to normal gait. Both patients with CI and those with ICH showed similar trends in gait parameters by BWS Walker. Conclusions: These results suggest that using a BWS walker improves walking in stroke patients with hemiplegia in terms of gait parameter, and is a useful tool for gait training.