Chronic Stroke Survivor Engaging in Balance Training on a Dual-Belt Treadmill Using Open-Skills Learning: A Case...

Balance impairment after a stroke is a common impediment to activities of daily living and can lead to falls. Balance ability is particularly associated with social participation; therefore, targeted rehabilitation to prevent falls is crucial. We have previously developed a dual-belt treadmill task for repetitive multidirectional stepping based on open-skill training, which demonstrated significant efficacy in balance training for older adults. However, the effect on stroke survivors, who are more likely to move in a manner that compensates for their non-paretic limbs, remains unclear. This report presents the specific application of the dual-belt treadmill task in a chronic stroke survivor who experienced falls outdoors. The participant was a woman in her 60s with left hemiplegia, two years post-stroke, who walked independently. She attended a day rehabilitation program twice a week, receiving 40-minute sessions of exercise therapy. However, after experiencing two falls, a dual-belt treadmill intervention was introduced. This report examines the changes in physical function and fall-related outcomes over two three-month periods before and after the introduction of the dual-belt treadmill, using an AB design. Following the dual-belt treadmill intervention, a reduction in the number of falls was observed, along with increased muscle strength in the affected limb. The dual-belt treadmill intervention may be effective in reducing falls in chronic stroke patients.