OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the virtual walking training program using a real-world video recording on walking balance and spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with chronic stroke. DESIGN: Fourteen patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 7) or the control group (n = 7). The subjects in both groups underwent a standard rehabilitation program; in addition, the experimental group participated in the virtual walking training program using a real-world video recording for 30 mins a day, three times a week, for 6 wks, and the control group participated in treadmill gait training for 30 mins a day, three times a week, for 6 wks. Walking balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go test. Gait performance was measured using an electrical walkway system. RESULTS: In walking balance, greater improvement on the Berg Balance Scale (experimental group 4.14 versus control group 1.85) and the Timed Up and Go test (-2.25 versus -0.94) was observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In the spatiotemporal gait parameters, greater improvement on velocity (25.40 versus 9.74) and cadence (26.71 versus 11.11) was observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the positive effects of the virtual walking training program using a real-world video recording on gait performance. These findings suggest that the virtual walking training program using a real-world video recording may be a valid approach to enhance gait performance in patients with chronic stroke.

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