The locomotor training was also compared against an equivalent schedule of home exercise managed by a physical therapist, aimed at enhancing patients` flexibility, range of motion, strength, and balance as a way to improve their walking. The primary measure was each group`s improvement in walking at 1 year after the stroke.
While researchers had hypothesized that the body-weight-supported treadmill and walking program would be superior to a home exercise program, they found that all groups did equally well, achieving similar gains in walking speed, motor recovery, balance, social participation, and quality of life.
At the end of 1 year, 52% of all the study participants had made significant improvements in their ability to walk.
"More than 4 million stroke survivors experience difficulty walking. Rigorously comparing available physical therapy treatments is essential to determine which is best,`` said Walter Koroshetz, MD, deputy director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
"The results of this study show that the more expensive, high-tech therapy was not superior to intensive home strength and balance training, but both were better than lower-intensity physical therapy."
The results of the study were published in the May 26 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Source: NINDS