Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Neuromuscular and Neurosurgery

Background: Stroke is one of the major leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Some studies suggested that bilateral reinforced (powerful) swinging of upper extremities instead of natural movement is more helpful for improving weight shifting of the trunk, and gait kinematics. It was found that single (affected) arm restraining has positive effects in enhancing gait patterns especially during gait training sessions in hemiparetic patients who have excessive motion of COG. The upper limb swing function during walking has not yet been clarified, and still subject of debate. Aim of Study: To determine and compare between effect of spontaneous (normal) arm swing, bilateral reinforced arm swing (powerful) and single (affected) arm restraining on spatiotemporal gait parameters in stroke patients.Patients and Methods: Thirty male patients with chronic cerebrovascular stroke participated in this study. All patients performed overground ten-meter walk test (10-MWT) without any assistive devices at self-selected comfortable walking speed (SSCWS) in three different conditions: normal arm swing, affected arm restraining using arm sling and bilateral reinforced arm swing randomly for three trails each to calculate average walking speed.The same speed calculated was set on the treadmill of Biodex Gait Trainer 2{u2122} system in meter per second (m/sec.) Subjects performed a three-minute walk under each of the previous conditions randomly for recording spatiotemporal gait parameters.Results: There was a significant increase in walking speed, total distance, and time on affected side at powerful arm swing compared with that at normal arm swing and arm sling conditions.There was a significant increase in walking speed, and total distance at normal arm swing compared with that at arm sling condition while there was no significant difference between normal arm swing and arm sling conditions on time on affected side

Issued also as CD