Fast Muscle Activation and Stepping Training (FAST) Post-stroke

University of British Columbia

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Stroke; Hemiparesis

Treatments: Behavioral: Usual Care; Behavioral: FAST protocol

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01573585

H12-00837

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether FAST (Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training) exercises will improve walking balance in individuals after stroke to a greater extent than usual care.

Hypothesis: The primary hypothesis is that improvements in walking balance will be larger following 12 sessions of FAST exercise retraining compared to usual care in persons in the sub-acute phase after stroke.

Full description

It is estimated that 75-80% of individuals who have had a stroke will survive the acute event and be left with residual disability. Regaining independence in standing and walking is of utmost importance for patients recovering from stroke. Walking balance requires muscles in the legs and trunk to contract quickly if people lose their balance. Physical therapy plays a key role in the rehabilitation of walking balance in individuals after stroke. Given that maintaining one's balance requires fast muscle activity, rehabilitation post-stroke should focus on speed of movement. Thus we are proposing to compare a program that emphasizes speed of movement, Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training versus an active control (usual care).

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Study population: Subjects with a diagnosis of stroke

Inclusion Criteria:

• first stroke (<6 months ago)
• presence of hemiparesis in the lower extremity
• minimum Berg Balance Score (BBS) of 30/56
• cognitive ability to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• bilateral stroke, or a previous stroke in the other hemisphere
• severe co-morbidity that is likely to dominate the pattern of care
• co-existing peripheral neuropathies or disorders of the vestibular apparatus
• musculoskeletal problems
• global aphasia or receptive aphasia

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Usual care

Active Comparator group

Description:

The usual care will consist of strength training, endurance, range of motion, patient education, weight shifting in standing and gait re-training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Usual Care

FAST protocol

Experimental group

Description:

The Fast muscle activation and stepping training will be the Experimental arm of this trial. This program will be exercises emphasizing speed of movement.

Treatment:

Behavioral: FAST protocol