Effects of treadmill inclination on hemiparetic gait: controlled and randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of inclined treadmill training on the kinematic characteristics of gait in subjects with hemiparesis.

DESIGN

A blind, randomized, controlled study was conducted with 28 subjects divided into two groups: the control group, submitted to partial body weight-support treadmill gait training with no inclination, and the experimental group, which underwent partial body weight-support treadmill training at 10% of inclination. All volunteers were assessed for functional independence, motor function, balance, and gait before and after the 12 training sessions.

RESULTS

Both groups showed posttraining alterations in balance (P < 0.001), motor function (P < 0.001), and functional independence (P = 0.002). Intergroup differences in spatiotemporal differences were observed, where only the experimental group showed posttraining alterations in velocity (P = 0.02) and paretic step length (P = 0.03). Angular variables showed no significant differences in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

In subjects with hemiparesis, the addition of inclination is a stimulus capable of enhancing the effects of partial body weight-support treadmill gait training.