Assistive walking devices in nonambulant patients undergoing
rehabilitation after stroke: the effects on functional mobility,
walking impairments, and patients’ opinion

Tyson, S; Rogerson, LA

Abstract

Objective: To assess the immediate effects of assistive
walking devices on functional mobility, walking impairments,
and patients’ opinions in nonambulant patients after stroke.
Design: Randomized crossover trial.
Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation units of 3 United Kingdom
hospitals.
Participants: Twenty nonambulant patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation to restore walking.
Interventions: Five walking conditions: (1) Walking with
no device (the control condition), (2) walking with a walking
cane, (3) ankle foot orthosis, (4) slider shoe, and (5) a combination
of all 3 devices.
Main Outcome Measures: Functional mobility (functional
ambulation categories), walking impairments (speed, step
length of the weak leg), and patients’ opinions.
Results: Functional mobility improved with all assistive
devices (P�.0001–.005; effect sizes 1.68–0.52; number
needed to treat�2–5). Walking impairments were unchanged
(P�.800 –.988). Participants were generally positive about the
devices. They felt their walking, confidence, and safety improved
and found the appearance and comfort of the devices acceptable.
They would rather walk with the devices than delay walking until
a normative gait pattern was achieved without them.
Conclusions: Assistive walking devices improved functional
mobility in nonambulant rehabilitation patients with
stroke. No changes in walking impairments were found. Participants
were generally positive about using the devices. The
results support the use of assistive walking devices to enable
early mobilization after stroke; 2 patients would need to be
treated with a cane or combined devices for 1 to improve
functional mobility.

Citation

walking impairments, and patients’ opinion. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90(3), 475-479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2008.09.563

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Mar 23, 2010
• Journal: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Print ISSN: 0003-9993
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 90
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 475-479
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2008.09.563
• Keywords: Ankle; Canes; Foot; Orthotic devices; Patient; satisfaction; Rehabilitation; Shoes; Stroke; Walking
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2008.09.563