A proprioceptive disorder in a leg can cause knee collapse and genu recurvatum during walking. However, there are few reports on rehabilitation of this walking disorder when it is due to sensory disturbance. Herein we describe a stroke patient in his 60s with severe sensory disturbance subsequent to a right putaminal hemorrhage who underwent walking exercise based on the inverted pendulum model. On day 15 post-onset, his left lower extremity had a Brunnstrom recovery stage of VI and the manual

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... uscle test score for his left hip extensors was 3. His tactile sensation and proprioception in the left lower extremity were severely decreased. He could walk while grasping a parallel bar with his right hand but knee collapse and genu recurvatum occurred. We implemented walking exercises based on the inverted pendulum model for 40-60 minutes/day for about a month. On day 53 post-onset, his knee collapse and genu recurvatum resolved and he was able to walk independently indoors with a cane. Although there was no obvious improvement in his sensory disturbance, his manual muscle test for the left hip extensors increased to 4. The progress suggests that walking exercise based on the inverted pendulum model may have a positive effect on walking ability in a patient with severe sensory disturbance. The improvement in walking ability in this patient was attributed not to sensory improvement but to muscle strengthening and reacquisition of motor control using residual physical function.