Participants
first-ever, hemiparesis, stroke, skin ulcerations, bilateral motor deficits, contracture, arterial stroke, Arrhythmia, aphasia, Unstable Angina
STROKE, SKIN ULCERATIONS, UNSTABLE ANGINA, ARRHYTHMIA
Screening was done in the outpatient clinic of the department and patients with first ever stroke episode only were considered for the study. Those who gave written informed consent and satisfying the following inclusion criteria were recruited: (a) Adults with hemiparesis due to a first-ever arterial stroke with duration of ≥ 3 weeks post stroke, (b) Aged between 18 to 65 years, (c) Able to walk independently or with assistive device for 10 m, (d) Able to walk for 6 min at the beginning of the study and (e) Cognitive ability to consent, assimilate, and participate actively in the treatment protocol (Montreal Cognitive Assessment-MoCA ≥ 24). Individuals with bilateral motor deficits, global/Wernicke's aphasia, contracture of joints (hip, knee, and ankle) that would prevent from standing, walking, or fitting of harness system, recent Unstable Angina or Arrhythmia, any other medical conditions that prohibit intensive gait training, open skin ulcerations in the sacral / trochanteric region or other body surfaces in contact with harness affecting participation were excluded. Flow-diagram of the study is depicted in Fig. Flowchart of the study