Usability of the Thera-Band® to improve foot drop in stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors show "foot drop", dragging their toes on the ground in the swing phase of gait. Ineffective ankle dorsiflexion may result in an abnormal gait pattern.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle Thera-Band® use on gait patterns in stroke survivors.

METHODS: Gait data were collected in eight subjects who had had strokes using gait analysis system, both with and without the Thera-Band®. The following dependent variables of gait parameters were analyzed: velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, single support time, and double support time.

RESULTS: There were significant improvements in gait velocity, cadence, stride length, and double support time in those who used the Thera-Band® compared to those who did not (p <  0.05). However, there were no significant differences in step length or single support time (p >  0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that ankle Thera-Band® use may have a positive effect in improving gait parameters by increasing the ankle stability in stroke survivors with foot drop. Its usefulness in the rehabilitation of foot drop in stroke survivors needs to be further investigated.