Locomotor Recovery Following 8 Weeks of I-Walk Gait Training in Subacute Stroke.

The custom-designed robotic gait aid "I-Walk" was developed to enhance ambulation and facilitate cost-effective repetitive training. However, empirical evidence regarding its impact on cardiovascular endurance remains scarce. This study assessed the beneficial effects of 8 weeks of I-Walk gait training on walking endurance and aerobic capacity in 11 subacute stroke patients 45 to 70 years of age within 6 months of their first stroke. They were randomly assigned to the Control Group (n = 5) and the I-Walk Gait Training Group (n = 6). All underwent a daily 60-min session, 3 d·wk^-1 for 8 wks. The program included a 30-min PT session, and 30 min of gait training (overground or using the I-Walk). Walking distance and aerobic capacity were measured using the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) before and after the intervention. After the 8 weeks of I-Walk Gait Training, the average walking distance increased by 60 m (P = 0.039) with a mean peak VO₂ increase of 1.38 ml·kg^-1 ·min^-1 (0.11-2.65 ml·kg^-1 ·min^-1, P = 0.039) vs. an average increase of 44 m (P = 0.107) with overground training. The I-Walk with a conventional PT program increased the 6MWT performance in the subacute stroke patients with progressive improvement over the intervention period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]