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Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Published in: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Stroke | Research

Novel gait training alters functional brain connectivity during walking in chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled pilot trial

Authors: I-Hsuan Chen, Yea-Ru Yang, Chia-Feng Lu, Ray-Yau Wang

Published in: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

A recent study has demonstrated that a turning-based treadmill program yields greater improvements in gait speed and temporal symmetry than regular treadmill training in chronic stroke patients. However, it remains unknown how this novel and challenging gait training shapes the cortico-cortical network and cortico-spinal network during walking in chronic stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to examine how a novel type of gait training, which is an unfamiliar but effective task for people with chronic stroke, enhances brain reorganization.

Methods

Subjects in the experimental and control groups received 30 min of turning-based treadmill training and regular treadmill training, respectively. Cortico-cortical connectivity and cortico-muscular connectivity during walking and gait performance were assessed before and after completing the 12-session training.

Results

Eighteen subjects (n = 9 per group) with a mean age of 52.5 ± 9.7 years and an overground walking speed of 0.61 ± 0.26 m/s consented and participated in this study. There were significant group by time interactions for gait speed, temporal gait symmetry, and cortico-cortical connectivity as well as cortico-muscular connectivity in walk-related frequency (24–40 Hz) over the frontal-central-parietal areas. Compared with the regular treadmill training, the turning-based treadmill training resulted in greater improvements in these measures. Moreover, the increases in cortico-cortical connectivity and cortico-muscular connectivity while walking were associated with improvements in temporal gait symmetry.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest this novel turning-based treadmill training is effective for enhancing brain functional reorganization underlying cortico-cortical and corticomuscular mechanisms and thus may result in gait improvement in people with chronic stroke.

Trial registration

ACTRN12617000190​303. Registered 3 February 2017, retrospectively registered.
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Metadata
Title
Novel gait training alters functional brain connectivity during walking in chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors
I-Hsuan Chen
Yea-Ru Yang
Chia-Feng Lu
Ray-Yau Wang
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Stroke
Published in
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1743-0003
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-019-0503-2

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