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Robert Delgado
Instructor
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Posted: Fri Mar 27th, 2009 06:41 am |
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I work in the outpatient clinic and am limited on the amount of session each clinic receives; however I have found that because motor learning is occurring each session through high intensity, high repetition, patient improve their quality and gait speed after 4 to 6 visits. I often start with speeds as low as .5 mph in elder stroke patients and progress as fast as I can sometimes sacrificing quality. I also stop when I get tired facilitating or the patient is fatigued. This often occurs after 3 to 4 minutes. I alway let them rest, and then ask them what they felt was good about the walk and what they feel they should improve. Their ability to self correct and understand what to avoid can be helpful in training. I limit my verbal cues during each session and let them feel the walk vs cognitively organize the walk. I repeat this a few more times but also finish practicing on level ground to maximize the patients learning and carry-over. They and the families are often shocked to see the improve quality, gait speed, and step length. I may not see them for one week but I give them exercises that will work on step length, speed, coordination, and stability. When they return I often can progress the distance, speed and duration by 25% for the next several visits. If they have moderate cognitive impairment or severe cardiopulmonary limitations, the speed or duration may be limited; however the quality is almost alway improving even in chronic strokes. I am convinced that using the Litegait is the state of the art method in gait training and achieving functional goals in a very quick time period.
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nkarman
Instructor
| Joined: | Sat Jul 15th, 2006 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 48 |
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Offline
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 03:19 am |
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| I would argue (based on Karen Adolph's data) that, if possible, more often would be ideal. When children are learning to walk they cover 29 football fields a day- it takes epochs of practice to develop a skill.
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WebKeeper
Administrator
| Joined: | Wed Jul 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 76 |
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Posted: Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 07:34 am |
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- Depending upon patient diagnosis and patient tolerance.
- Speed: to stimulate CPG, must be faster.
- Frequency: Research shows improvement with as little as one treatment session per week. 3x/wk is average.
- Ideally would like to walk patient at speed slightly faster than what they are able, increasing amount of time and speed and decreasing amount of weight supported as therapy progresses.
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WebKeeper
Administrator
| Joined: | Wed Jul 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 76 |
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Posted: Sat Sep 22nd, 2007 07:31 am |
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How fast should the patient walk? How long? How frequently?
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Current time is 06:06 pm | |
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