# Effect of Gait Training With Non-paretic Knee Immobilization on Lower Limb and Trunk Acceleration in a Post-stroke Hemiparetic Patient: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A post-stroke patient's gait training with non-paretic knee immobilization improved muscle activity in the affected limb without affecting trunk stability.

## Contribution

The study introduces gait training with non-paretic knee immobilization as a novel rehabilitation method for post-stroke hemiparetic patients.

## Key findings

- Gait training with non-paretic knee immobilization increased paretic lateral gastrocnemius muscle activity.
- Trunk stability was maintained during the intervention, suggesting potential for improved rehabilitation outcomes.
- The method was applied successfully in a post-stroke hemiparetic patient, showing functional improvements.

## Abstract

This case report describes a woman in her fifties who experienced a left-sided atherothrombotic cerebral infarction with lesions in the left corona radiata. The patient exhibited motor paralysis of the right upper and lower limbs. After a 10-day acute hospital stay, she was admitted to a rehabilitation facility for an intensive program of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. By day 17 of the onset, she had achieved independence by walking with a cane.

This case was documented to study the effects of gait training with non-paretic knee immobilization on muscle activity and trunk kinematics in post-stroke hemiplegia. Traditional physical therapy was used initially, followed by an intervention phase in which gait training was performed with the non-paretic knee immobilized. This approach was hypothesized to induce beneficial kinematic and muscle activity changes in the paretic limb. The results showed increased muscle activity in the paretic lateral gastrocnemius without compromising trunk stability, suggesting that this method may improve rehabilitation outcomes in similar cases.