WVXU: How walking backward might help stroke survivors

Roughly seven million people in the U.S. have experienced a stroke, leaving around 66% unable to independently move around. A researcher with the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute is studying how walking backward on a treadmill could lead to vast quality of life improvements for these survivors.

"The goal of the study is to improve walking independence," says Oluwole Awosika, MD, assistant professor in the department of neurology and rehabilitative medicine at UC and a UC Health stroke expert. "Walking independence is one limiting factor for stroke survivors to return to work and to be able to be more active in the community. It's a contributor to depression, a contributor to falls, and so, a goal of this study is to be able to better understand how to improve walking."

Listen to the full WVXU report.

Read the UC News story.

Featured photo of Oluwole Awosika, MD, by Colleen Kelley/UC Creative + Brand.