The Effect of Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT) on Sensorimotor Function, Balance and Gait among Patients with Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke: A Quasi Experimental study

BACKGROUND: Stroke is defined as the immediate loss of neurological function caused by an interruption of the blood flow to the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. Hemiparesis is the most frequent neurological deficit presenting with Balance and Gait deficits, which in turn leads to disability among the acute period of post stroke individuals. Locomotor Training, including the use of Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training, is a physical therapy Intervention used to improve recovery of the ability to walk after stroke. AIM & OBJECTIVE: To Determine the Effect of Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT) improve Sensorimotor Function (LE), Balance and Gait among patients with Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke. METHODOLOGY & PROCEDURE: Quasi-experimental research design with purposive sampling technique was employed. Sixteen patients undergoing treatment for MCA territory stroke hemiparesis in Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, Coimbatore, with age group 30 – 75 years were selected. Sixteen (16) patients were randomly allocated into each group. Group A received Conventional Exercise and Group B received Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT) along with Conventional Exercise. Treatment Duration is 5 times/week for totally 3 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Fugl- meyer Sensorimotor assessment of Physical Performance (FMA- LE) for assessing the Motor Function, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for assessing the Balance, Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) for assessing the Ambulation, Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) for assessing the Confidence Level, Gait Parameters include Step Length, Stride Length, Cadence. RESULTS: The Data was analyzed by using Paired ‘t’ test and Independent ‘t’ test. The Group that received Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training had significant improvement in all certain variables except for Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), Step Length, and Stride Length. CONCLUSION: The result of this study provide shows that, the Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT) could be used for early rehabilitation after stroke to help in recovery, and improves the Sensorimotor Function, Confidence Level and Spatiotemporal parameters (Cadence) among patients with Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke