| Objective: To investigate the effect of electronic walking aid on balance and walking ability in stroke patients. Methods: Sixty stroke patients were randomly assigned into treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=30) by the random number table. The patients in the treatment group were given electronic walking aid training on the basis of routine exercise therapy, and those in the control group received dynamic ankle-foot orthesis training on the basis of routine exercise therapy. The balance functions of all subjects were valued by the score of Berg balance scale (BBS), and the walking abilities were observed by 10m maximum walking speed (10m MWS). Results: Before treatment, after wearing the equipment, 10m MWS was significantly increased in both groups as compared with that without wearing the equipment (P<0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, both BBS scores and 10m MWS in both groups were significantly increased as compared those before treatment (P<0.05), regardless of whether the patients were equipped or not. Without wearing the equipment, 10m MWS in the treatment group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Wearing ankle-foot orthesis or electronic walking aid can improve the balance of stroke patients,but electronic walking aid is more effective in improving patient’s walking speed. |
