Effects of a gait training session combined with a mass on the non-paretic lower limb on locomotion of hemiparetic patients: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundResults of recent studies have suggested that restraint of non-paretic lower limb movement could improve locomotion in hemiplegic patients. The aim of this study was therefore to determine if a mass applied to the non-paretic lower limb during a single gait training session (GTS) would specifically improve spatio-temporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters (GP) of the paretic lower limb.MethodsSixty chronic hemiplegic subjects were included in this randomized study. Each participated in one of four GTS conditions: overground or on a treadmill while wearing or not wearing an ankle mass. All subjects were assessed before, immediately after and 20 min after the end of the GTS using 3D gait analysis.ResultsThe results showed that restraining the non-paretic lower limb during a GTS had no specific effect on GP of the paretic limb, whereas it increased braking force of the non-paretic limb.ConclusionRestraining the non-paretic lower limb of hemiparetic patients with a mass applied to the ankle does not seem to be an effective approach to improve paretic lower limb parameters during a single GTS.

► We assess for the first time the restrain of the non-paretic ankle with a mass with a randomized controlled study, in hemiparetic subjects. ► This technique does not induce specific effects on biomechanical gait parameters on paretic side. ► The gait training with the mass increased the braking force on the non-paretic side.