Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters of Healthy and Stroke Patients During Overground, Treadmill, and Body Weight Supported Treadmill Walking

Gait impairments following a stroke significantly hinder mobility and quality of life, emphasizing the need for precise assessment methods to guide effective rehabilitation strategies. This study evaluates the variability and reliability of spatiotemporal gait parameters across three walking modalities: overground walking, treadmill walking, and body-weight-supported treadmill walking. Using a counterbalanced design, all participants undergo gait analysis in each modality to ensure unbiased and reliable comparisons. The study also incorporates a locally developed, cost-effective Body Weight Support System (BWSS) to address the limitations of accessibility in resource-constrained settings. By identifying how different modalities influence gait variability and reliability, this research aims to optimize rehabilitation outcomes and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing affordable gait analysis tools in clinical practice.