Impaired reciprocal gait in patients with ischemic stroke: a single-session recovery trial

BACKGROUND: The spatiotemporal gait parameters are frequently impaired in post-stroke patients. The treatment involves rhythmic auditory stimulation. One disadvantage of existing approaches is the need for long-term treatment, which does not always provide a favorable outcome. AIM: The work aimed to assess the possibility of improving reciprocal gait in patients after ischemic stroke using a metronome during a single training session. METHODS: Patients (n=22) after ischemic stroke had a single training session using a metronome. Patients were divided into two groups based on the findings of a triplicate biomechanical study: “positive effect” (n=15; hemiparesis; subacute [n=11] and chronic [n=4] phases of stroke recovery) and “no effect” (n=7; hemiparesis; subacute [n=3] and chronic [n=4] phases of stroke recovery). RESULTS: The positive effect group showed the following significant changes: increased walking cycle for both limbs (p 0.05), decreased walking cadence (p 0.05), improved walking rhythmicity coefficient (p 0.05), reduced single leg stance phase on the contralateral side (p 0.05), and improved reciprocity (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with walking asymmetry can benefit from a single metronome training session during different phases of stroke recovery. However, individual patient characteristics that may limit the method’s efficacy must be considered. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms of action and assess the long-term outcomes of rhythmic auditory stimulation to restore reciprocal coordination during walking.