Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 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
Association of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation Combined with Body Weight Support Treadmill Training with Gait Symmetry
Yan Xu1, HaiJuan Lu, DanDan Yu
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changxing County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313100, China.
Objective:
To investigate the association of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) combined with body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT) with gait symmetry and balance function in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
Methods:
This retrospective study included 110 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia admitted between January 2023 and January 2025. According to the treatment received under non-randomized allocation, patients were divided into the BWSTT-alone group ( n = 55) and the RAS + BWSTT group ( n = 55). Gait symmetry, balance function (Berg balance scale [BBS] and Fugl-Meyer assessment [FMA-LE]), and walking ability (10-m walk test [10MWT] and 6-min walk test [6MWT]) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Adverse events were recorded.
Results:
After 8 weeks of treatment, the RAS + BWSTT group showed significantly higher step length symmetry index, cadence symmetry index, and double support phase time symmetry index compared with the BWSTT-alone group ( P < 0.05). BBS scores, FMA-LE scores, 10MWT speed, and 6MWT distance improved significantly in both groups, with the RAS + BWSTT group showing significantly greater improvement ( P < 0.05). However, the between-group differences for BBS (2.26 points) and FMA-LE (2.83 points) did not reach the established minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds. No significant difference in adverse event incidence was observed between the groups ( P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
RAS combined with BWSTT was associated with significant improvements in gait symmetry and walking ability compared with BWSTT alone. For balance and lower limb motor function, although between-group differences were statistically significant, they did not meet MCID thresholds; therefore, their clinical significance requires further investigation. This combined approach may provide a reference for developing walking rehabilitation programs for patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.