One of the main sequelae of stroke is dificulty walking, which is characterized by a decreased gait velocity and asymmetrical walking patterns. The purpose of this research was initially focused on developing a vibro-tactile cueing device that recognizes an implicit increase in cadence frequency. Subsequently, a proof-of-concept study with patients who had experienced stroke was conducted to examine the applicability of the system that had been developed. We applied Weber’s law to provide an implicit method for increasing cueing frequency. This law involves the calculation of just-noticeable difference (JND) relative to a previous state. Throughout training with the proposed cueing device, patients marginally increased cadence, and their cadence and gait speeds were significantly increased post-test. Hip circumduction gait (i.e., abnormal gait patterns) did not change significantly throughout training. Notably, patients reported that they were unaware of any changes associated with the vibration stimulus. Our result demonstrates the immediate changes to cadence and gait speed that occurred through training with the proposed implicit cueing device. However, the result of this study is confined to immediate gait changes after training and utilized only a small sample of stroke patients. Thus, the limited volume of data obtained prevents rigorous analysis regarding the applicability of this training method. Nonetheless, these results are promising and provide a starting point from which to base larger studies.

中文翻译：

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使用隐式方法开发振动提示系统以提高中风患者的步行速度：概念验证研究

中风的主要后遗症之一是困难的步行，其特征在于步态速度降低和步行方式不对称。这项研究的目的最初集中在开发一种振动触觉提示设备，该设备可以识别出节奏频率的隐式增加。随后，对经历过中风的患者进行了概念验证研究，以检查已开发系统的适用性。我们应用韦伯定律提供了一种隐式方法来提高提示频率。该定律涉及相对于先前状态的合理差异（JND）的计算。在使用建议的提示设备进行的整个训练过程中，患者的步频略有提高，并且测试后的步频和步态速度显着提高。髋关节绕行步态（即 在整个训练过程中，步态异常）没有明显变化。值得注意的是，患者报告说他们不知道与振动刺激有关的任何变化。我们的研究结果表明，通过使用建议的隐式提示设备进行训练，节奏和步态速度会立即发生变化。但是，这项研究的结果仅限于训练后立即步态改变，并且仅利用了少量的中风患者。因此，所获得的数据量有限，无法对这种训练方法的适用性进行严格的分析。尽管如此，这些结果是有希望的，并为更大的研究奠定基础。我们的研究结果表明，通过使用建议的隐式提示设备进行训练，节奏和步态速度会立即发生变化。但是，这项研究的结果仅限于训练后立即步态改变，并且仅利用了少量的中风患者。因此，所获得的数据量有限，无法对这种训练方法的适用性进行严格的分析。尽管如此，这些结果是有希望的，并为更大的研究奠定基础。我们的研究结果表明，通过使用建议的隐式提示设备进行训练，节奏和步态速度会立即发生变化。但是，这项研究的结果仅限于训练后立即步态改变，并且仅利用了少量的中风患者。因此，所获得的数据量有限，无法对这种训练方法的适用性进行严格的分析。尽管如此，这些结果是有希望的，并为更大的研究奠定基础。所获得的数据量有限，无法对这种训练方法的适用性进行严格的分析。尽管如此，这些结果是有希望的，并为更大的研究奠定基础。所获得的数据量有限，无法对这种训练方法的适用性进行严格的分析。尽管如此，这些结果是有希望的，并为更大的研究奠定基础。