Fysioterapeuten (Nov 2004)
Bruk av tredemølle med seleoppheng i rehabilitering av pasienter med nevrologiske skader
Abstract
The aim of this project was to register clinical outcome and the physiotherapists’ experiences in using treadmill therapy in rehabilitation of patients with neurological injuries. Patients were consecutively included in an explorative study during an 11 month period in 2001-2002. A registration form included demographic and diagnostic information about the patients, basic gait parameters: walking speed, walking distance, walking time, amount of body weight support, and physical assistance. Three additional outcome measures were used: Functional Ambulation Categories, EU Walking Index and Functional Independence Measure (task 9, shorter transfer). The physiotherapists were asked ten questions about their experiences from using the treadmill in the treatment of the patients. Relevant statistical and qualitative methods were used in the analyses of the data. A total number of 59 patients, with the mean age of 50 years, participated in the study. 19 physiotherapists were responsible for training the patients. The mean numbers of treatments were 11, and the mean training time lasted for 14 minutes. Statistically significant results were achieved for all the basic gait parameters and the three outcome measures. The patients experienced improved walking ability and the improvements were greater and appeared faster than expected compared with earlier experiences. The therapists found the method to be useful for early training of walking ability, and the treadmill gave good possibilities in stimulating and assisting the patient in all parts of the gait cycle. The present study indicates that treadmill therapy with body weight support is a useful and effective method in the rehabilitation of walking ability in patients with neurological injuries.
