Evaluation of the impact of exercise of gait on a treadmill on balance of people who suffered from cerebral stroke.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to define the impact of exercise on a treadmill on static balance and stability of posture in a group of patients after cerebral stroke rehabilitated in a late period, with an application of a treadmill with the function of visual biofeedback.

METHODS: The examination was carried out in a group of 46 people in a late period after ischemic cerebral stroke. The patients examined were randomly put to a group with intervention (n = 23), in which a rehabilitation programme with an application of a treadmill with the visual feedback function was realized and to a control group (n = 23). They evaluated balance in standing on both feet by means of a force plate, symmetry of load of lower limbs and dynamic balance in Up & Go test.

RESULTS: A statistically significant change of stabilometric parameters was observed only in the area of postural sways of the centre of pressure (COP). A significant improvement of the symmetry of load of lower limbs in standing (p = 0.0266) was diagnosed in the examined group after the end of the programme. After the end of the programme no significant difference between the group with intervention and the control group as for a change of balance of the examined patients was found.

CONCLUSIONS: In the examined group in the chronic period after cs no significant improvement of stabilometrically evaluated balance was obtained, but improvement of the symmetry of load of lower limbs as well as improvement of dynamic balance were observed.