Effectiveness of Task-Oriented Gait Training on Balance and Mobility in Stroke Survivors Attending Rehabilitation Centers in Pakistan: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Keywords:
Balance, Functional Mobility, Gait Training, Neurorehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Stroke Rehabilitation, Task-Oriented ExerciseAbstract
Background:
Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability, often resulting in impaired balance, gait disturbances, and reduced independence. Task-oriented gait training (TOGT), emphasizing functional, repetitive, and goal-directed movements, has shown promise in enhancing motor recovery. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effectiveness in the rehabilitation settings of Pakistan, where conventional physiotherapy remains predominant.
Objective:
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of task-oriented gait training on balance and mobility among stroke survivors attending rehabilitation centers in Punjab, Pakistan.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was conducted from March to October 2022 at three rehabilitation centers in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Sixty stroke survivors (aged 40–70 years) were randomly allocated into two groups: the experimental group received task-oriented gait training and the control group received conventional physiotherapy, three times weekly for eight weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA applied at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results:
The experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in balance and mobility than the control group. Mean BBS scores increased from 28.3 ± 5.2 to 45.8 ± 4.7, TUG times decreased from 27.5 ± 3.9 s to 15.1 ± 2.7 s, and DGI scores improved from 12.2 ± 2.8 to 20.4 ± 3.2 (p < 0.001). The control group showed smaller gains across all measures. No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion:
Task-oriented gait training significantly enhanced balance and mobility compared to conventional physiotherapy in stroke survivors. It represents a feasible, cost-effective, and functionally relevant intervention for improving post-stroke rehabilitation outcomes in Pakistan.
Keywords:
Balance, Functional Mobility, Gait Training, Neurorehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Stroke Rehabilitation, Task-Oriented Exercise
