Impact of PNF-based Walking Exercise on a Ramp on Gait Performance of Stroke Patients

[Purpose] The present study examines how PNF-based walking exercise on a ramp affects gait performance of stroke patients. [Methods] Forty stroke patients were randomly divided into an experiment group and a control group. For the former group, patients went through a half-hour of training therapy and a half-hour of PNF-based walking exercise on a ramp. For the latter group, patients went through 30 minutes of training therapy and a half-hour of walking exercise on a ramp. All participants had five training sessions each week for four weeks. For measurement, a GAITRite system was used to examine temporal parameters, spatial parameters, and functional ambulation performance before and after the training. [Results] Regarding temporal parameters, step time, double support, and stance phase decreased more significantly in the experiment group than in the control group after the walking exercise on a ramp, while mean velocity increased significantly. In terms of spatial parameters, step length, and heel-to-heel base of support increased significantly in the experiment group after the walking exercise, and step-to-extremity ratio decreased significantly in the same group. Lastly, FAP rose more significantly in the experiment group than in the control group following the walking exercise on a ramp. [Conclusion] The experiment results showed that PNF-based walking exercise on a ramp is effective in enhancing gait performance. It is expected that the same exercise can be applied to patients of other types of neurological disorders to improve their gait performances.