Effect of Task Oriented Activity Training on Improving Balance and Self Efficacy in Sub Acute Stroke

Abstract

Many interventions have been practiced and used for the rehabilitation of balance in stroke patients among which one of the approach is the task oriented activity. In the present study this approach has been used to evaluate its effectiveness on improving balance, self- efficacy and functional status in sub acute stroke. Thirty individuals were selected and divided into two groups of fifteen each, one group was administered conventional therapy and the other group was administered conventional therapy alongwith task oriented activity approach for four weeks (five days per week). Berg Balance Scale, Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale, Timed Up and Go and Barthel Index were used prior before starting the therapeutic intervention and on last day of the intervention to assess the changes between the baseline and the post intervention. Independent t-test was used for comparing means between all the two groups. Paired t- test was used to compare the difference within the groups at two time periods –baseline and after 4 weeks. The results showed significant improvement in both the group administered with conventional therapy along with task oriented approach. With the mean difference found between the pre and post therapeutic measurements was much more in the experimental group in balance, self- efficacy (p > 0.00%) and functional status (p > 0.04%). So it concludes, that the present study provides evidence for the effectiveness of task oriented approach on improving balance, self-efficacy and functional status.