Gait training using a cane with an augmented pressure sensor to enhance weight bearing over the affected lower limb is beneficial and effective in improving the peak force of cane, muscle activation, and gait in stroke patients.

This study was conducted in order to determine the relationship among fear-avoidance beliefs, pain and disability index in patients with low back pain as well as to identify factors having an influence on fear-avoidance beliefs, pain and disability index. The subjects used in this study were 55 patients with low back pain. All subjects completed a fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) which was divided into two subscales, FABQ for physical activity (FABQ-P) and FABQ for work (FABQ-W), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). In correlation analysis, FABQ-P appeared to show significant correlation with FABQ-W, FABQ-total, VAS and RMDQ, and all variables showed significant correlation with each other. Findings of this study suggest that screening for fear-avoidance beliefs may be useful for identification of patients at risk of psychosocial problems as well as pain intensity and physical impairment.

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