OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a treadmill and overground walking program in reducing the disability and handicap associated with poor walking performance after stroke. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a 3-month follow-up. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 29 ambulatory individuals (less 2 dropouts) who were living in the community after having suffered a stroke more than 6 months previously. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group participated in a 30-minute treadmill and overground walking program, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The control group received a placebo consisting of a low-intensity, home exercise program and regular telephone contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Walking speed (over 10 m), walking capacity (distance over 6 min), and handicap (stroke-adapted 30-item version of the Sickness Impact Profile) measured by a blinded assessor. RESULTS: The 4-week treadmill and overground walking program significantly increased walking speed (P=.02) and walking capacity (P<.001), but did not decrease handicap (P=.85) compared with the placebo program. These gains were largely maintained 3 months after the cessation of training (P</=.05). CONCLUSIONS: The treadmill and overground walking program was effective in improving walking in persons residing in the community after stroke. This suggests that the routine provision of accessible, long-term, community-based walking programs would be beneficial in reducing disability after stroke.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a treadmill and overground walking program in reducing the disability and handicap associated with poor walking performance after stroke. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a 3-month follow-up. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 29 ambulatory individuals (less 2 dropouts) who were living in the community after having suffered a stroke more than 6 months previously. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group participated in a 30-minute treadmill and overground walking program, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The control group received a placebo consisting of a low-intensity, home exercise program and regular telephone contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Walking speed (over 10 m), walking capacity (distance over 6 min), and handicap (stroke-adapted 30-item version of the Sickness Impact Profile) measured by a blinded assessor. RESULTS: The 4-week treadmill and overground walking program significantly increased walking speed (P=.02) and walking capacity (P<.001), but did not decrease handicap (P=.85) compared with the placebo program. These gains were largely maintained 3 months after the cessation of training (P</=.05). CONCLUSIONS: The treadmill and overground walking program was effective in improving walking in persons residing in the community after stroke. This suggests that the routine provision of accessible, long-term, community-based walking programs would be beneficial in reducing disability after stroke.
Authors: Charalambos C Charalambous; Heather Shaw Bonilha; Steven A Kautz; Chris M Gregory; Mark G Bowden Journal: Neurorehabil Neural Repair Date: 2013-06-13 Impact factor: 3.919
Authors: Daniel S Marigold; Janice J Eng; Andrew S Dawson; J Timothy Inglis; Jocelyn E Harris; Sif Gylfadóttir Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Catherine M Dean; Chris Rissel; Michelle Sharkey; Catherine Sherrington; Robert G Cumming; Ruth N Barker; Stephen R Lord; Sandra D O'Rourke; Catherine Kirkham Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2009-07-22 Impact factor: 2.474