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

Pomeroy, V. M., 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:	28 Mar 2025 04:52
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/13464
DOI:	10.1191/026921501678310199

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