Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effects of applying the principles of shaping to part-task, pre-gait activities in persons with chronic stroke. It was hypothesized that this would be feasible and would result in positive treatment effects. Method: Eleven participants completed this prospective, repeated measures study (6 male; mean age 61.18 ±10.41years; median months post stroke 18.00 IQR 10.00; 7 left hemiparesis). The intervention was administered five times a week for two consecutive weeks for 60-minute sessions; each exercise performed for ten 30-second trials. Exercises addressed common gait impairments for individuals with chronic stroke. Verbal praise and informing participants of repetitions contributed to shaping. Outcomes assessed at baseline, post and retention were Five Times Sit to Stand (5xSTS), Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale, and gait symmetry for step length, swing time, stance time and velocity measured on an electronic walkway. Results: The group of participants met pre-determined benchmarks for feasibility: intervention completion rate (100%), safety (0 falls, 0 emergency calls), tolerance (90% tolerated 30 second trials), 15% increase in repetitions (100%) and personnel (100% required two or less helpers). There was an increase in mean repetitions per session from 594 during days 1-3 to 1026 on the final day of intervention (P=.003). Only the 5xSTS and the FGA showed statistically significant improvements over time (P<.01). Discussion: The study protocol was feasible and safe to implement for this sample. The protocol yields a high number of repetitions in a short, intense time with a positive treatment effect for functional measures of lower extremity strength and gait activity.

Creator

• Gustafson, Beth

Contributors

• Combs-Miller, Stephanie

Publisher

• University of Indianapolis

Language

• en

Identifier

• Gustafson, Beth Final DP Manuscript 8.15.17_Redacted.pdf

Keyword

• Health Sciences

• Quantitative

Date created

• 2017-08-09

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/