An exploration of the effects of weighted garments on balance and gait of stroke patients with residual disability

Pomeroy, V. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4487-823X, Evans, B., Falconer, M., Jones, D., Hill, E. and Giakas, G. (2001) An exploration of the effects of weighted garments on balance and gait of stroke patients with residual disability. Clinical Rehabilitation, 15 (4). pp. 390-397.

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Abstract

Objective: To explore the effects of weighted garments on the balance and gait of stroke patients. Design: A pilot randomized controlled study with blinded measurement. Setting: Weighted garments were worn by patients living in the community and measurement was made in a hospital-based gait laboratory. Subjects: Twenty-four adults who were at least six months post stroke and were able to walk 10 metres with or without assistance or a walking aid. Intervention: The six-week treatment-phase subjects were given a set of weighted garments which they were shown how to apply and instructed to wear on their paretic side. Subjects randomly allocated to the six-week control phase were not given any weighted garments. Main outcome measures: Balance was measured with the Berg Balance Scale. Gait was measured using GaitMat II, an instrumented walkway. Gait parameters of interest were velocity and symmetry of: step length; single support time; double support time; and support base width. Measures were made at baseline before randomization (baseline) and at the end of the six weeks of intervention (outcome). Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the treatment and control groups at outcome for balance (Mann–Whitney U-test; p = 0.74), gait velocity (p = 0.68) or symmetry of gait parameters (p = 0.33 to p = 0.75). Conclusions: We found no evidence to support the clinical use of these weighted garments for stroke survivors.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Allied Health Professions (former - to 2013)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Depositing User: EPrints Services
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2010 11:10
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2024 08:37
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/13464
DOI: 10.1191/026921501678310199

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