Effectiveness of the simple body weight support walker

2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20700454
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
• Principal Investigator: MAKINO Kenichiro University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 医学部, 助教 (30341514)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2009
• Keywords: 脳卒中 / 部分免荷 / 酸素摂取量

Research Abstract

There are some reports about effectiveness of partial weight supported gait training for hemiplegic patients. BWS walker is simple and inexpensive partial weight supported gait training system. Physical Cost Index and O_2 cost of physical therapists on gait training using BWS walker for hemiplegic patients were lower than ordinary gait training, though gait speed was higher. BWS walker may be able to let physical therapists concentrate on patients' gait training.