High-Intensity Gait Training for Patients After Stroke: A Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Physical Therapy
• Stroke Recovery

Background:

• Two-thirds of stroke survivors experience walking impairment, limiting societal participation.
• High-intensity gait training (HIGT) shows promise for improving post-stroke gait function compared to standard training.
• HIGT is currently underutilized in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of implementing HIGT in a neurorehabilitation hospital.
• To evaluate patient adherence, safety, and satisfaction with HIGT.

Main Methods:

• A 2-week longitudinal cohort study involving 15 stroke patients undergoing HIGT (3-5 sessions/week).
• Feasibility assessed via adherence, fidelity, adverse events, and patient satisfaction.
• Gait assessments, heart rate, and step counts were monitored before, during, and after training.

Main Results:

• High adherence (14/15 patients completed ≥8 sessions) and no serious adverse events were observed.
• Target heart rate (>60% HRmax) was achieved for an average of 26.4 minutes per session.
• Significant improvements in all gait assessments and a substantial increase in daily steps were recorded, alongside high patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• HIGT is a feasible and safe intervention for stroke patients within existing neurorehabilitation structures.
• The training was well-tolerated, with patients reporting high satisfaction and willingness to recommend it.
• HIGT can be effectively integrated into standard physical therapy, improving gait outcomes and patient mobility.