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. 2015 Nov;27(11):3515-8.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.3515. Epub 2015 Nov 30.

The effect of step climbing exercise on balance and step length in chronic stroke patients

Ki-Hyeon Park  1 , Da-Yeon Kim  1 , Tae-Ho Kim  1
Affiliations

The effect of step climbing exercise on balance and step length in chronic stroke patients

Ki-Hyeon Park et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to examine the effect of step climbing exercise on the walking ability of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Among hospitalized stroke patients, 24 were selected based on the study criteria and randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (12 patients) and a control group (12 patients). The patients in both groups participated in 15-minute exercise sessions three times a week for eight weeks. To analyze the effect of the exercise, muscle strength, the Timed Up and Go test, and step length were measured before and after the exercise. [Results] step climbing exercise improved the muscle strength in the lower limbs of the stroke patients, as well as their Timed Up and Go results and step lengths. [Conclusion] The effects were similar to a stair gait exercise, and thus, step climbing may be more broadly applied to the treatment of stroke patients.

Keywords: Muscle strength; Step climbing; Stroke.

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