Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
A Rehabilitation Program of Exoskeleton-assisted Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training with Non-immersive Virtual Reality for Stroke Patients
Published on: May 16, 2025
Effects of treadmill training with optic flow on balance and gait in individuals following stroke: randomized
Hyung-Kyu Kang1, Young Kim, Yijung Chung
1Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Objective:
This study examined the effects of treadmill training with optic flow on the functional recovery of balance and gait in stroke patients.
Design:
Randomized controlled experimental study.
Participants:
Thirty patients following stroke were divided randomly into the treadmill with optic flow group (n = 10), treadmill group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10).
Interventions:
The subjects in the experimental group wore a head-mounted display to receive speed-modulated optic flow during treadmill training for 30 minutes, while those in the treadmill group and control group received treadmill training and regular therapy for the same time, three times a week for four weeks.
Main Measures:
The data were collected using timed up-and-go test, functional reach test, 10-m walk test, and six-minute walk test before and after treatment.
Results:
The timed up-and-go test in the treadmill with optic flow group (5.55 ± 2.04) improved significantly greater than the treadmill (1.50 ± 0.93) and control (0.40 ± 0.84) groups. The functional reach test in the treadmill with optic flow group (2.78 ± 1.44) was significantly higher than the control group (0.20 ± 0.16) only. The gait velocity in the treadmill with optic flow group (0.21 ± 0.06) showed a significant decrease compared to the treadmill (0.03 ± 0.02) and control (0.01 ± 0.02) groups. Finally, the six-minute walk test in the treadmill with optic flow group (24.49 ± 11.00) showed significant improvement compared to the treadmill training (4.65 ± 3.25) and control (1.79 ± 3.08) groups.
Conclusion:
Treadmill using optic flow speed modulation improves the balance and gait significantly in patients with stroke who are able to participate in physical gait training.
