Background: Stroke patients show abnormal walking patterns due to brain injury. In order to have the desired walking pattern, appropriate stimulation is required to activate the central pattern generator. For this reason, our study performed treadmill ambulatory training with rhythmic auditory stimulation. However we did not consider the influence of visual feedback. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the gait abilities in chronic stroke patients following either treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation and visual feedback (TRASVF) or treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation (TRAS) alone. Methods: Twenty-one stroke patients were divided into two groups: A TRASVF group (10 subjects) and a TRAS group (11 subjects). They received 30 minutes of neuro-developmental therapy (NDT) and walking training for 30 minutes, five times a week for three weeks. Temporal and spatial gait parameters were measured before and after the training period. The Biodex gait trainer treadmill system measured gait parameters. Results: After the training periods, the TRASVF group showed a significant improvement in walking speed, the step length of the affected limb, and time on each foot of the affected limb when compared to the TRAS group (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation and visual feedback improved individual gait ability more than the treadmill walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation alone. Therefore, visual feedback should be considered along with rhythmic auditory stimulation training.

The purpose of this study was to find a more effective balance training method. The subjects of this study were 14 children with cerebral palsy (7 males, 7 females) being treated at Seran Pediatric Developmental Research Center in Taegu. Two groups of children with cerebral palsy (everyday trained group, every-other-day trained group) were evaluated with visual & auditory feedback. Evaluation and training device was Balance Performance Monitor (BPM) Dataprint Software Version 5.3. There was statistically significant difference of the balance score between the pre-and the post-training in both group (p<.05), but there was no difference of the balance score between two groups (p<.05). In conclusion, it is likely that the visual and auditory feedback in children with cerebral palsy was effective in improving standing balance, but there was no difference between everyday trained group and every-other-day trained group.

The objective of this study was to identify the effects of weight-transfer training on the weight bearing distribution and gait patterns of hemiplegic patients through visual and auditory feedback using a limb load monitor. The subjects of this study were 18 hemiplegic patients who had been hospitalized or were visited out-patient department of the Rehabilitation Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, from January 5, 1995 through March 15, 1995. Pre-and post-training changes in gait patterns were measured using ink foot prints as well as by recording weight bearing distribution using a limb load monitor. The data were analyzed by the repeated measure one-way ANOVA and paired t-test. The finding were as follows: 1. Prior to the training, 18 subjects bore more weight on the sound leg(61.6 %) than on the affected leg(38.4 %). 2. Posterior to the training, the average percentage of weight bearing on the affected leg increased significantly from 38.4 % prior to training; to 46.0 % immediately after training; 45.7 % after a 30 second delay; and 45.3 % after a 60 second 3. The difference in gait patterns between pre- and post- training was statistically significant, with an increase in gait velocity to 3.65 cm/sec post-training; an increase in stride length to 5.37 cm on the affected side; 4.77 cm on the sound side; and a narrowing of the base of support to 1.19 cm. In conclusion, hemiplegic weight-transfer training using visual and auditory feedback with a limb load monitor was found to be enhancing symmetrical standing posture, and simultaneously improve gait patterns.

Biofeedback devices have been used successfully to improve head control and symmetrical walking in cerebral palsied children. Biofeedback of postural sway was investigated as a therapeutic technique to reduce postural abnormality in 24 selected children with cerebral palsy. Subjects were evaluated their weight distribution of both sides during their standing before and after the visual and auditory feedback training. The effectiveness of biofeedback was compared to conventional physical therapy practices in reestabilishing symmetrical standing in cerebral palsied children. Our study found biofeedback was effective in training symmetrical standing posture.