Effects of Task-Directed Gait Training on Dynamic Balance and Gait Speed and Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Chronic Stroke

This study aimed to determine the effects of task-oriented obstacle walking training on dynamic balance, gait speed, and activities of daily living in patients with chronic stroke. The study was a randomized controlled trial involving 24 patients with hemiplegia due to chronic stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group (n=12) performed task-oriented walking training at a comfortable speed for 15 minutes on a track with 3 cm and 10 cm high obstacles. The control group (n=12) walked at a comfortable speed for 15 minutes on a 60-meter track. Both the experimental and control groups carried out the intervention and the pre-intervention rehabilitation exercise program for 30 minutes per session, three times a week, for six weeks, totaling 18 sessions. Both groups performed a 30-minute rehabilitation exercise program consisting of active/passive range of motion exercises, trunk and weight-shifting exercises, and walking exercises three times a week for six weeks before the intervention. The timed up and go (TUG), gait speed, and activities of daily living modified barthel index (MBI) were evaluated before and after the intervention for both groups. The results showed significant differences in dynamic balance, gait speed, and activities of daily living within the experimental group before and after the intervention (p.05). Comparisons between the groups revealed statistically significant differences in all variables, favoring the experimental group over the control group (p