Effectiveness of Task-Oriented Gait Training on Functional Ambulation in Post-Stroke Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/67m02896Keywords:
Stroke rehabilitation; task-oriented training; gait speed; functional ambulation; randomized controlled trialAbstract
Background: Gait impairment is a major cause of long-term disability after stroke, and conventional physiotherapy often yields limited restoration of community-level ambulation. Task-oriented gait training (TOGT), grounded in motor learning principles, may enhance functional walking by engaging patients in repetitive, goal-directed tasks that mimic real-world gait demands. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an eight-week TOGT program compared with conventional physiotherapy on functional ambulation in post-stroke patients. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 60 adults with subacute stroke were allocated to TOGT or conventional physiotherapy (30 per group). Both groups received supervised 45-minute sessions, five days per week for eight weeks. Outcomes including gait speed (primary), 6MWT distance, FAC, TUG, cadence, step symmetry, BBS, and mobility rating were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: TOGT produced significantly greater gains in gait speed (+0.30 vs +0.16 m/s; between-group Δ = 0.14 m/s, p < 0.001), 6MWT distance (+100 vs +50 m, p < 0.001), FAC (+1.4 vs +0.9, p = 0.002), and TUG (−6.6 vs −3.9 s, p = 0.004). Regression analysis showed TOGT independently predicted higher post-treatment gait speed (β = 0.12, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Task-oriented gait training is superior to conventional physiotherapy for improving multidimensional gait outcomes after stroke. Keywords: Stroke rehabilitation; task-oriented training; gait speed; functional ambulation; randomized controlled trial
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