What is Gait Training?
The pattern in which a person walks is called the gait. Many different types of walking problems occur without a person’s conscious control. Most, but not all, are due to some physical condition.
What are the equipment's used in gait training at our center
Functional electrical stimulation (FES):
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Treadmill training : Use to help with improving endurance and cardio respiratory functions. Usually effective post cardiac surgery or medical condition where generalised weakness lead poor endurance.
Functional lower extremity training: Lower extremity training is useful with people who suffered from sensory loss, limb loss (eg. Amputation) and walking with aid and prosthesis. This particular training is aim to adapt environment by improving upper limb strength and learning new ways of walk with use of supportive aid.
Treadmill training and body-weight support (BWS) combined :
‘Enables safe and early Patient Mobilisation’
Body weight support system enables partial weight- bearing therapy to be conducted with the reassurance of patient comfort and safety, and with convenient access to the patient for manual assistance and observation. Unlike simple patient lift devices, this specific Biodex Unweighing Systems incorporate a dynamic suspension system that accomodates the vertical displacement of the centre of gravity that occurs during normal gait. This off-loading mechanism maintains constant force by simply dial the amount to off load. When walking, an individual’s centre of gravity typically moves through a vertical range from one to four inches (2.5 to 10cm), depending on the speed. This System accommodates up to four inches of vertical displacement while maintaining a consistent level of un-weighing. Another component of normal gait is pelvic rotation. Two- point suspension systems have a tendency to restrict rotation on the horizontal plane. They respond to pelvic rotation similar to the way a p a y g round swing undulates back to neutral after being twisted. The single-point suspension of the Biodex system allows unrestricted pelvic rotation. In case, should pelvic stabilisation be desired cords are attached to the support vest and adjusted for specific degrees of stabilisation
With a Biodex Un-weighing System, the patient can change direction without repositioning the entire patient support system. Also the confidence gained by not having to hold themselves up focuses the patient on making even steps, and reduces the tendency to walk slowly. When training with a treadmill, single point suspension permits functional pelvic rotation and versatility when walking, side-stepping, retro-walking and turning.
- Over-ground training: Walking over ground required for any medical condition where it required regaining walking independently and safely.
- Includes –walking with obstacles
- Up slope and down slope
- Stairs going up and down
- Walking on foam surface to increase perturbation
- Walking with stick, Elbow crutch or elbow frame, wheeled walker or normal walker
- Walking with Artificial limb – post – amputation.
- Brace-assisted walking – Brace assisted walk where it required people who find difficult to carry their body weight on to affected part of lower limb and required brace or calliper to walk.
