Does a Group, Task-oriented Community-based Exercise Program Improve Everyday Function in People With Stroke?
Stroke, Balance, Mobility Limitation
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Stroke focused on measuring stroke, community-based exercise program, task-oriented exercise, group exercise program, healthcare-recreation partnership, randomized controlled pilot trial, mixed methods
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Clinical diagnosis of stroke recorded in the health record;
- Age ≥ 18 years;
- Living at home for at least 3 months;
- Ability to walk a minimum of 10 metres with or without walking aids without assistance from another person;
- Ability to follow verbal instructions or demonstrations of the exercises;
- Ability to speak and read English; and
- Willingness to obtain medical clearance from a healthcare provider and sign a liability waiver.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Self-reported involvement in another formal exercise or rehabilitation program;
- Conditions or symptoms preventing participation in exercise (e.g., unstable cardiovascular disease, significant joint pain);
- Cognitive or behavioural deficits that would prevent cooperation within a group;
- Self-reported ability to walk more than 20 minutes without a seated rest; and
- Self-reported ability to manage environmental barriers (curbs, ramps, and stairs) with relative ease.
Sites / Locations
- University of Toronto, Department of Physical Therapy
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Experimental Group
Wait-listed Control Group
The intervention is a group, task-oriented exercise program involving two 1-hour exercise classes per week for 12 weeks. The class involves a seated warm-up, repetitive, progressive practice of functional balance and mobility tasks, and a seated cool down. The warm-up consists of active range-of-motion exercises, aerobic exercise, leg loading, stretching, and sit-to-stand training. The cool-down involves exercises with an emphasis on stretching and relaxation. Tasks are organized in a 3-station circuit completed by participants grouped by overall ability: Superstation 1: walking, aerobic training, and wall work (standing and reaching, wall push-ups); Superstation 2: standing weight shifts, coordinated with stepping and lunging; and Superstation 3: tap-ups, step-ups, and heel/toe raises, hamstring curls, marching-on-the-spot, and mini-squats. Participants are instructed to be physically active by walking in their neighbourhood, practicing the program exercises, or using the stairs.
The control group will receive usual care which will be monitored and is expected to consist of provision of a home exercise program and information on community resources according to current best practices. At the end of the study period, participants in the control group will be offered to participate in the 3-month exercise program.