Proposed step training with auditory feedback for post-stroke hemiparetic patients with knee hyperextension

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment combining auditory feedback regarding knee flexion angle with gait training utilizing proprioceptive feedback in reducing knee hyperextension, focusing on knee joint angles in gait. [Participants and Methods] Six post-stroke hemiparetic patients underwent the intervention, and we measured the knee flexion angle and the shank tilt angle while they were walking with their own ankle-foot orthoses pre- and post-intervention and evaluate the therapeutic effects. [Results] The knee flexion angles in each phase of the gait cycle did not differ significantly between pre- and post-intervention, but the forward tilt angles of the lower leg in the mid-stance phase and the terminal stance phase were significantly higher post-intervention. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that the treatment described in this study alleviated knee hyperextension.