Gait Variability and its Relationship to Functional Mobility in Hemiparetic Stroke

Background: Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with hemiplegia being one of the most common outcomes, significantly impairing gait and functional mobility. The integration of sensory stimulation techniques into rehabilitation practices offers a promising avenue for enhancing recovery outcomes in hemiplegic stroke survivors. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of auditory and visual sensory stimulation on improving gait parameters and functional mobility in hemiplegic stroke patients. Methods: Conducted at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, this analytical cross-sectional study involved 24 stroke survivors with hemiplegia, randomly assigned to two intervention groups. Inclusion criteria included a Modified Ashworth Scale score of 1 to 1+ and a Mini-Mental State Examination score of ≥25. One group received auditory feedback gait training (AFGT) with smart insoles, while the other engaged in sit-to-stand training with visual feedback using a Wii Balance Board, alongside conventional rehabilitation therapies. The interventions lasted four weeks, with assessments conducted pre and post-intervention. Outcome measures included the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), and various gait parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Results: Post-intervention, the study observed significant improvements in DGI (mean increase: 3.5 points, p<0.01), FMA-LE scores (mean increase: 10 points, p<0.01), and enhanced gait parameters including step length and stride length (p<0.05). The group receiving AFGT with smart insoles showed notable improvements in spatiotemporal gait parameters and balance compared to the control group, indicating the efficacy of sensory feedback in rehabilitation. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that incorporating auditory and visual feedback into rehabilitation regimens can significantly improve gait dynamics and functional mobility in hemiplegic stroke patients. These findings suggest the potential for sensory stimulation techniques to enhance the effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation, advocating for their integration into standard care practices.