Anita Heeren, Mariëlle van Ooijen, Alexander C.H. Geurts, Brian L. Day , Thomas W.J. Janssen, Peter J. Beek, Melvyn Roerdink, Vivian Weerdesteyn
Department of Rehabilitation, Radboud University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-1180

Objective: To evaluate the concept of C-Mill gait adaptability training.
Design: Pre- and post-intervention assessments.
Subjects: Sixteen community-dwelling persons in the chronic phase after stroke (mean age 54. 8 years).
Methods: Participants received 10 sessions (1 h per session, for 5–6 weeks) of gait adaptability training on an instrumented treadmill augmented with visual targets and obstacles (C-Mill). Pre- and post-intervention assessments included: (i) clinical assessments of balance and gait: 10-m walking test, Timed Up-and-Go test, Berg Balance Scale, obstacle sub-task of the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile, and the Trunk Impairment Scale; (ii) physical activity level, assessed with a pedometer; (iii) success rate of accurate step adjustments towards a displacing target, assessed with an instrumented Target-Stepping Task; (iv) participant’s experience with the training.
Results: All clinical assessments improved significantly after training (all p < 0. 05), except for the Trunk Impairment Scale (p = 0. 584). Physical activity increased by 19. 6% (p < 0. 05). Improvements in Target-Stepping Task success rates depended on the specific testing condition (time × body support × step direction, χ2(1) = 3. 884, p < 0. 05). All participants appreciated the training.
Conclusion: The concept of C-Mill gait adaptability training in the chronic phase after stroke is promising and warrants future research involving a randomized controlled trial.