EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPPLEMENTED BACKWARD WALKING TRAINING ALONG WITH CONVENTIONAL THERAPY ON BALANCE AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH STROKE

Abstract

Objective: A stroke is a significant cause of mortality and disability worldwide, including in India, where it ranks as the second leading cause of death and the third most common cause of disability. Impairments in motor functions, such as balance and walking, are common consequences of stroke and have a substantial impact on functional abilities. Various rehabilitation strategies have been employed, but the effectiveness of these approaches varies.

Methods: The study included 40 individuals with a history of stroke who met specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. The control group received conventional therapy, while the experimental group received supplemented backward walking training along with conventional therapy. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Barthel Index (BI), and balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Pre-and post-test scores were collected for both groups.

Results: The results showed that the experimental group demonstrated a significantly higher improvement in BI scores (9.94%) compared to the control group (4.95%), indicating that the supplemented backward walking training had a greater impact on enhancing activities of daily living. In terms of balance, both groups showed improvements in BBS scores, with the control group exhibiting a 3.49% change and the experimental group showing a larger improvement of 7.87%. These improvements were statistically highly significant.

Conclusion: Supplemented backward walking training, when combined with conventional therapy, has a positive impact on balance and functional outcomes in stroke patients. The results emphasize the potential of incorporating backward walking training into stroke rehabilitation programs to enhance recovery and improve the quality of life for stroke survivors. However, the study has limitations, including a relatively small sample size and short intervention duration, necessitating further research with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods to validate the effectiveness of supplemented backward walking training in stroke rehabilitation.