Regaining independent walking 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 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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
63
Participants will wear accelerometers every weekday during in-patient rehabilitation to monitor walking activity. Feedback of daily walking activity will be provided to the patients' treating physiotherapists to assist with goal-planning around walking.
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Change in walking activity from admission to discharge from rehabilitation
Total daily walking acitivty, measured by number of steps per day, total duration of walking activity, total distance walked, and frequency of 'long' walking bouts (\>5 minutes in duration).
Time frame: Admission and discharge from in-patient rehabilitation (approx. 4-6 weeks)
Change in control of walking
Self-selected walking speed and symmetry of spatio-temporal characteristics of walking
Time frame: Admission and discharge from in-patient rehabilitation (approx. 4-6 weeks)
Change in self-efficacy
Stroke self-efficacy questionnaire
Time frame: Admission and discharge from in-patient rehabilitation (approx. 4-6 weeks)
Goal attainment
Rehabilitation goals are classified as 'achieved', 'partially achieved', 'not completed' or 'discontinued'.
Time frame: Discharge from in-patient rehabilitation (4-6 weeks), discharge from out-patient rehabilitation (10-16 weeks)
Community integration
Community integration questionnaire
Time frame: Discharge from out-patient rehabilitation (10-16 weeks) and 3-month follow-up
Satisfaction with progress towards rehabilitation goals
Participants will be asked to rate satisfaction with progress towards goals on a 10-point scale
Time frame: Discharge from in-patient rehabilitation (4-6 weeks) and discharge from out-patient rehabilitation (10-16 weeks)
Barriers to walking
Open-ended question regarding participants' perceived barriers to walking.
Time frame: Monitored throughout participants' enrolment (0-28 weeks)
Falls
Increased walking activity might increase the risk for falls. Falls experienced throughout the study will be recorded to determine if there are more falls in the experimental group.
Time frame: Monitored throughout participants' enrolment (0-28 weeks)
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