Effects of Visual Feedback During Recumbent Stepping in Individuals With Chronic Stroke.
Objective
To investigate the effects of intermittent visual feedback (using the Balanced Power program on the NuStep Transitt) during recumbent stepping on strength, balance, and functional mobility in individuals with chronic stroke.


Design
Quasi-experimental 1-group pretest-posttest study.


Setting
Human performance research laboratory.


Participants
Adults (N=11; 7 female; mean age, 58.7±13.6y), >6 months post stroke.


Interventions
Eight 45-minute training sessions on the NuStep Transitt (visits 2-9) twice a week (5-minute warm-up and cooldown with 35 minutes of training [5min with and then without visual feedback regarding left/right lower extremity percentage effort]). Visits 1 and 10: pre- and post assessment.


Main Outcome Measures
Self-selected and fast gait speeds; maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) of knee extension and flexion and ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion; and 5 times sit-to-stand (5TSTS).


Results
Significant improvements in 5TSTS (14.2s, P=.007) and fast gait (hemi: 4.9 cm [P=.024], nonhemi: 4.5cm (P=.019) stride length; nonhemi step length 2.3 cm (P=.024]). MVC and self-selected gait parameters showed no significant changes.


Conclusions
The NuStep Transitt is a valuable tool that provides real-time feedback about percentage of use of the hemiparetic leg. This intervention study has demonstrated that the addition of visual feedback about left/right percentage effort while exercising on the Transitt has significant and clinically relevant effects on the functional mobility of individuals with chronic stroke.
['Pardo|Vicky|V|', 'Albertson|Morgan|M|', 'Bacus|Marina|M|', 'Crosbie|Lyndsey|L|', 'Sharkey|Karen|K|', 'Maher|Sara|S|']
Stroke 5TSTS, 5 times sit-to-stand Feedback, sensory ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient MVC, maximum voluntary contraction Rehabilitation