본 연구는 수중트레드밀훈련이 만성 뇌졸중 환자의 보행능력에 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 시행하였다. 연구의 대상은 I재활병원에 입원하고 있는 편마비 뇌졸중 환자 20명이었으며, 수중트레드밀군 10명과 대조군 10명으로 구분하였다. 수중트레드밀군과 대조군 모두 동일하게 1회 30분씩 주 5회, 총 4주 동안 일반적인 재활프로그램을 시행하였으며, 수중트레드밀군에게 추가로 훈련을 1회 30분씩 주 2회, 총 4주 동안 실시하였다. 훈련 전과 후에 보행 시공간 보행변수를 검사하였으며 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 보행능력은 시간적인 변수와 공간적인 변수 모두에서 수중트레드밀군에서는 유의한 증가를 보였으며(p<.05) 대조군에서는 유의한 증가를 보이지 않았다. 본 연구를 통해 수중트레드밀훈련이 만성 뇌졸중으로 인한 편마비 환자의 보행능력을 증진시키는데 있어 효과적인 운동방법임을 확인하였다. 앞으로 뇌졸중 및 다양한 질환의 환자의 운동 프로그램의 연구를 통해 수중운동을 적극적으로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of the gait training using under- water treadmills on gait ability of chronic stroke patients. A total of 20 hemiplegic stroke patients hospitalized in I rehabilitation hospital in Incheon were screened and randomized for the group selections, under-water treadmill and control groups. 10 under-water treadmill group patients were treated with the under-water treadmill while the rest left untreated. All the patients from both groups received their usual rehabilitation therapy two times a week, 30 minutes per session for four weeks, and only the under-water treadmill group was subjected to additional 30 minutes of under-water treadmill training two times a week. Changes of gait ability before and after planned treatment were examined, and the results are as follows. Significant improvement in gait ability was observed in all subjects that spatial and temporal factors irrespective of the under-water treadmill treatment(p<.05) and did not observed in all subjects irrespective of the control groups(p<.05). It was confirmed in this study that the gait training using under-water treadmill was effective therapy in improving walk capability of chronic stroke patients as proven by resulting improvements in gait speed and cadence, affected area step and stride length after the treatment. Therefore, it is expected that the use of the under-water treadmill training method would actively be employed in the field through further studies on training programs designed not only for chronic stroke patients, but also for others suffering from various diseases.