EFFECTS OF BACKWARD WALKING ON GAIT PARAMETERS IN PEOPLE WITH STROKE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 795,000 people in the United States experience a stroke each year. A common result of a stroke is the negative impact on the person’s gait, including an asymmetrical gait pattern, a slower cadence, and decreased stride and step lengths. A well-structured, comprehensive rehabilitation program is necessary to address the gait deficits and reduce the risk of falls in people following stroke. Backward walking training has been reported as an appropriate therapeutic intervention to address these deficits for people following a stroke. Due to the range of benefits reported, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effects of backward walking training on gait parameters in people following stroke. A search of Embase, CINAHL, and PubMed databases was performed using specific search terms related to backward walking, stroke, and gait parameters. Following a defined process of title screen, abstract screen, full text screen, and application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, six articles were included in the final systematic review. Study results indicate significant evidence within the experimental groups for improvement in gait speed, step length, stride length, endurance, and balance. The findings from this systematic review indicate that backward walking training is an effective therapeutic intervention to improve gait parameters in people following stroke.