Subjects in both the experimental (SDT) and control groups received 30
minutes of locomotion training on a treadmill. Before the gait training,
subjects were fitted with a harness for safety purposes; no body-weight
support was given. The need to use the handrail for support was assessed
before each session and minimal hand support was encouraged
during training sessions. The initial belt speed of the treadmill was
determined by the fastest over-ground gait speed obtained from the
subject’s 10-m walk (10MW) test before each training session. For
SDT training, subjects received short intervals of locomotion training
with a treadmill. After walking for 30 s, the subjects had a 2-min rest.
If they completed the first walking trial safely and without stumbling,
the belt speed was increased by 10% on the next trial. However, if a
subject failed to complete the first trial, the belt speed was decreased
by 10% on the next trial. The speed of the treadmill was adjusted
in each subsequent trial according to the same principle. In a single
training session, subjects usually completed 7–8 walking trials in
approximately 4 min. The belt speed was increased by a maximum of
5 increments within one training session.