Applying pelvic corrective force and non-paretic leg resistance force improves paretic leg muscle activities in individuals with stroke during treadmill walking

Our purpose was to examine the effects of combined pelvic corrective force and non-paretic leg resistance force on paretic leg muscle activity during treadmill walking in individuals with stroke. Nine subjects with stroke participated. A corrective force to the pelvis toward the paretic leg and a resistance force to the non-paretic leg were applied when subjects walked on the treadmill at self-selected speed. Paretic leg muscle activities significantly increased after the application of pelvic corrective force and non-paretic leg resistance force. Our training protocol may be used to induce forced use of the paretic leg in individuals with stroke