EFFICIENCY OF AQUATIC TREADMILL TRAINING OVER BODY WEIGHT SUPPORTED TREADMILL TRAINING ON IMPROVING BALANCE AND GAIT PARAMETERS IN CHRONIC STROKE PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Stroke can lead to major movement issues, affecting balance and walking. This 
study compares aquatic treadmill training (ATT) to body-weight supported treadmill training 
(BWSTT) in chronic stroke patients in improving balance and gait parameters. These 
interventions utilize principles of task-specific training and neuroplasticity to enhance motor 
recovery and functional mobility. 
Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of aquatic treadmill training and body-weight 
supported treadmill training in improving balance, gait parameters, and functional 
independence in individuals with chronic stroke. 
Methods & Materials: Thirty first-ever stroke patients were recruited and randomly 
allocated to a control group and an experimental group. The control group received 40 
minutes of BWSTT (PhysioGait 360) training, while the experimental group performed 20 
minutes of ATT (Pooltrack Underwater Treadmill) and 20 minutes of BWSTT. Additionally, 
all participants received 30 minutes of conventional physiotherapy three times per week for 8 
weeks (24 sessions) under supervised rehabilitation settings. Outcome measures included 
lower limb strength, balance, gait parameters, and functional independence assessed using 
Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), and Activities-specific Balance 
Confidence (ABC) scale. 
Results: From pre- to post-intervention, statistically significant improvements were observed 
in the 10MWT (0.480±0.21 to 0.567±0.23, p <0.002), BBS (38.39±13.46 to 46.93±12.32, 
p<0.001), and ABC (39.66±8.63 to 43.80±5.21, p<0.001). Step-length symmetry (1.279±0.23 
to 1.211±0.21, p=0.109) and overall temporal symmetry (1.504±0.36 to 1.414±0.34, p=0.218) 
showed improvement without statistical significance. 
Conclusion: These findings suggest that combining aquatic treadmill training with body
weight supported treadmill training enhances functional gait recovery. This combined 
approach may improve patient confidence, promote better weight-bearing, and support 
effective rehabilitation outcomes in chronic stroke populations.