Unilateral Compliant Surfaces in Post-Stroke Gait Retraining: Enhancing Symmetry and Stability

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, frequently resulting in gait dysfunction characterized by asymmetries in kinematics and kinetics, reduced push-off force, and diminished muscle activity. These impairments contribute to slow, unstable, and energy-intensive walking, significantly lowering the quality of life and increasing fall risk. Current rehabilitation strategies often fail to deliver a lasting and comprehensive recovery. This study investigates the use of unilaterally compliant terrain as a novel intervention for post-stroke gait rehabilitation. A brief 3 to 4-minute exposure to unilateral low-stiffness terrain was tested on six stroke survivors, yielding statistically significant aftereffects that persisted for up to 5 to 6 minutes post-intervention. Improvements included increased vertical push-off force, reductions in asymmetry in vertical push-off force, and improved center of pressure symmetry, which is related to balance during walking. These promising results suggest that unilaterally compliant terrain may enhance the effectiveness of gait retraining and contribute to more lasting functional recovery for stroke survivors.