12-Week Supported Stationary Walking as a Panacea to Speed and Muscular Endurance in Hemiparetic Stroke Patients in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of 12-week supported stationary walking on speed and muscular endurance on hemiparetic stroke patients in Birnin Kebbi. A pre-test and post-test experimental control design was used for the study. A total of thirty-two (32) hemiparetic stroke patients were purposively recruited as experimental group (n=16) and control group (n=16) respectively. Data collection instrument used were electronic treadmill, digital sphygmomanometer, stop watch, weighing scale, 10-meter walk test and 6-minutes shuttle walk test. Participants joined training session progressively for 30 minutes per day, 3 days per week for 12-week at 50-80% of subjects’ maximal heart rates.  Mean and standard deviation was used to calculate subjects’ physical characteristics while independent t-test was used to analyze data on dependent variables of interest to the researchers (speed and muscular endurance). Results demonstrated significant effect on speed and muscular endurance with the value (t=38.64 df=30 P<0.05 and t=23.78 df=30 P<0.05) respectively. It was therefore, recommended among others that stroke patients should be encourage to engage in supported stationary walking as a cheaper and in-expensive exercise to improve walking speed and muscular endurance.