Evaluation of an Intervention Program Targeted at Improving Balance and Functional Skills After Stroke

Umeå University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Cerebrovascular Accident; Musculoskeletal Equilibrium

Treatments: Behavioral: high intensity functional exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00377689

Dnr 04-022

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a 5-week intervention program targeted at improving balance and functional skills for people with stroke.

Full description

Many people with stroke experience a deterioration in balance and a functional decline due to hemiplegic muscle strength. This tend to restrict the persons activity in daily life and also leads to a low falls self efficacy.

High intensity exercise have shown to be effective for improving strength and balance for older people in general living in residential care facilities. It is interesting to see if this high intensity exercise also is applicable in the older stroke population.

Comparison: An intervention group receives three training sessions per week and one theory session per week during 5 weeks, compared to a control group that receives one theory session per week during 5 weeks.

Enrollment: 34 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 55 years of age or older
• stroke diagnosis 3-6 months prior to inclusion
• ability to walk 10 meter with or without assistive device
• ability to understand simple instructions

Exclusion criteria

• TIA
• independent in walking outdoors
• serious visual impairment
• serious hearing impairment
• long distance to intervention station