The effect of a slider shoe on hemiplegic gait

Objective: To assess the effect of a slider shoe on the gait speed and energy efficiency of hemiplegic gait. Design: A-B-A single-case design to compare walking with and without the slider shoe. Results were assessed graphically using the 2SD method. Setting: Stroke unit of an NHS general hospital in the UK. Subjects: Four acute stroke patients undergoing gait rehabilitation. Intervention: Walking practice with and without a slider shoe worn over the real shoe of the weak leg. Main outcome measures: Gait speed (10-m walk test) and energy efficiency (Physiological Cost Index). Results: All subjects showed an improvement in speed and efficiency when wearing the slider shoe compared with the baseline phase (A1). Three subjects showed a sustained improvement in efficiency and two showed a sustained improvement in speed in the second baseline phase (A2). Conclusion: A slider shoe may improve the speed and efficiency of hemiplegic gait for people in the early stages of gait rehabilitation. Further investigation is warranted.