BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The ability to walk is impaired in more than 80% of poststroke patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the task-oriented circuit class training (TOCCT) with motor imagery (MI) on the gait during the subacute phase after a stroke. METHOD: This was a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial in a neurology department of a university hospital. A convenience sample of 30 people, 4 to 12 weeks (mean, 6.3 weeks) after the stroke was randomized into 2 groups (the TOCCT with MI and standard training group) of 15 people each. Twenty-nine participants completed the 6-week follow-up. Participants were assigned to receive either the TOCCT with MI or dose-matched standard training program based on the Bobath's neurodevelopmental technique, 7 days a week for 2 weeks, as outpatients or inpatients. Outcome measures were the Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), the Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment (RVGA), step length asymmetry, walking speed, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). RESULTS: The TOCCT with MI group showed a positive improvement in the mean/median scores on most of the outcome measures at post and follow-up assessments in comparison to the control group. However, statistically significant differences were observed in changes between the groups at post and follow-up assessment for FAC, RVGA, walking speed, and 6MWT (ANOVA, P = .001 to .049; Mann-Whitney U test, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Among the patients who had a stroke within the previous 4 to 12 weeks, the TOCCT with MI produced statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in the gait and the gait-related activities.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The ability to walk is impaired in more than 80% of poststroke patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the task-oriented circuit class training (TOCCT) with motor imagery (MI) on the gait during the subacute phase after a stroke. METHOD: This was a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial in a neurology department of a university hospital. A convenience sample of 30 people, 4 to 12 weeks (mean, 6.3 weeks) after the stroke was randomized into 2 groups (the TOCCT with MI and standard training group) of 15 people each. Twenty-nine participants completed the 6-week follow-up. Participants were assigned to receive either the TOCCT with MI or dose-matched standard training program based on the Bobath's neurodevelopmental technique, 7 days a week for 2 weeks, as outpatients or inpatients. Outcome measures were the Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), the Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment (RVGA), step length asymmetry, walking speed, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). RESULTS: The TOCCT with MI group showed a positive improvement in the mean/median scores on most of the outcome measures at post and follow-up assessments in comparison to the control group. However, statistically significant differences were observed in changes between the groups at post and follow-up assessment for FAC, RVGA, walking speed, and 6MWT (ANOVA, P = .001 to .049; Mann-Whitney U test, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Among the patients who had a stroke within the previous 4 to 12 weeks, the TOCCT with MI produced statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in the gait and the gait-related activities.
Authors: David H Saunders; Gillian E Mead; Claire Fitzsimons; Paul Kelly; Frederike van Wijck; Olaf Verschuren; Karianne Backx; Coralie English Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-06-29