BACKGROUND Gait impairment is a common consequence of stroke and typically involves a hemiparetic or asymmetric walking pattern. Asymmetric gait patterns are correlated with decreased gait velocity and efficiency as well as increased susceptibility to serious falls and injuries. RESEARCH QUESTION This paper presents an innovative device worn on a foot for gait rehabilitation post stroke. The device generates a backward motion to the foot, which is designed to exaggerate the existing step length asymmetry while walking over ground. We hypothesize this motion will decrease gait asymmetry and improve functional walking in individuals with chronic stroke. METHODS Six participants with chronic stroke, more than one year post stroke, received four weeks of gait training with three sessions per week. Each session included 30 min of walking over ground using the wearable device. Gait symmetry and functional walking were assessed before and after training. RESULTS All participants improved step length symmetry, and four participants improved double limb support symmetry. All participants improved on all three functional outcomes (gait velocity, Timed Up and Go Test, and 6-Minute Walk Test), and five participants improved beyond the minimal detectable change or meaningful change in at least one functional outcome. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the presented device may help improve stroke patients' walking ability and warrant further study. A gait training approach using this new device may enable and expand long-term continuous gait rehabilitation outside the clinic following stroke. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02185404. Registered July 9, 2014, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02185404.

中文翻译：

---

使用可穿戴设备重新学习中风后的功能性和对称性行走：可行性研究。

背景技术步态障碍是中风的常见后果并且通常涉及偏瘫或不对称的行走模式。不对称的步态模式与步态速度和效率降低以及严重跌倒和受伤的可能性增加相关。研究问题本文提出了一种戴在脚上用于中风后步态康复的创新装置。该设备会产生脚部向后运动，旨在夸大地面行走时现有的步长不对称性。我们假设这种运动将减少慢性中风患者的步态不对称性并改善功能性行走。方法 六名患有慢性中风（中风后一年多）的参与者接受了为期四个星期的步态训练，每周三次。每次训练包括使用可穿戴设备在地面行走 30 分钟。在训练前后评估步态对称性和功能性步行。结果 所有参与者的步长对称性均得到改善，四名参与者的双肢支撑对称性得到改善。所有参与者的所有三项功能结果（步态速度、计时起身测试和 6 分钟步行测试）均得到改善，五名参与者的至少一项功能结果的改善超出了最小可检测到的变化或有意义的变化。结论 结果表明，所提出的装置可能有助于改善中风患者的步行能力，值得进一步研究。使用这种新设备的步态训练方法可以实现并扩大中风后诊所外的长期连续步态康复。试用注册 NCT02185404。注册于 2014 年 7 月 9 日，https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02185404。