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.