Abstract
BackgroundRegaining independent ambulation is the top priority for individuals recovering from stroke. Thus, physical rehabilitation post-stroke should focus on improving walking function and endurance. However, the amount of walking completed by individuals with stroke attending rehabilitation is far below that required for independent community ambulation. There has been increased interest in accelerometer-based monitoring of walking post-stroke. Walking monitoring could be integrated within the goal-setting process for those with ambulation goals in rehabilitation. The feedback from these devices can be downloaded to a computer to produce reports. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of accelerometer-based feedback of daily walking activity during rehabilitation on the frequency and duration of walking post-stroke.MethodsParticipants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: feedback or no feedback. Participants will wear accelerometers daily during in- and out-patient rehabilitation and, for participants in the feedback group, the participants’ treating physiotherapist will receive regular reports of walking activity. The primary outcome measures are the amount of daily walking completed, as measured using the accelerometers, and spatio-temporal characteristics of walking (e.g. walking speed). We will also examine goal attainment, satisfaction with progress towards goals, stroke self-efficacy, and community-integration.DiscussionIncreased walking activity during rehabilitation is expected to improve walking function and community re-integration following discharge. In addition, a focus on altering walking behaviour within the rehabilitation setting may lead to altered behaviour and increased activity patterns after discharge.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01521234
Highlights
Regaining independent ambulation is the top priority for individuals recovering from stroke
In-patient rehabilitation provides a prime opportunity for individuals with stroke to practice walking such that they can ambulate safely post-discharge
The amount of daily walking reportedly completed by individuals with stroke during in-patient rehabilitation is low [19,20,21,22]
Summary
Regaining independent ambulation is the top priority for individuals recovering from stroke. Physical rehabilitation post-stroke should focus on improving walking function and endurance. The amount of walking completed by individuals with stroke attending rehabilitation is far below that required for independent community ambulation. Walking monitoring could be integrated within the goal-setting process for those with ambulation goals in rehabilitation The feedback from these devices can be downloaded to a computer to produce reports. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of accelerometer-based feedback of daily walking activity during rehabilitation on the frequency and duration of walking post-stroke. In-patient rehabilitation provides a prime opportunity for individuals with stroke to practice walking such that they can ambulate safely post-discharge. The amount of daily walking reportedly completed by individuals with stroke during in-patient rehabilitation is low [19,20,21,22]. The majority of walking bouts are of short duration (
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