Does Intensive Task Specific Training Improve Balance After Acute Stroke?

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cerebrovascular Accident
• Interventions: Behavioral: Physical therapy technique and exercises

• Registration Number: NCT00184431
• Lead Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate whether additional task specific physiotherapy treatment and a self administrated home training program results in better balance compared to traditional follow up care.

Detailed Description

Increased risk of falling is a major problem after stroke and impaired balance is one of the main reasons for falling. Early and intensive physiotherapy seems to be beneficial for functional outcome after stroke although it is still unknown whether one specific physiotherapy technique is better than another.

Comparison: Traditional follow up care by the community health care system with additional task specific physiotherapy three times a week and a daily self administrated home training program compared to traditional follow up care by the community health care system.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-04
• Study First Submitted: 2005-09-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-09-15
• Study First Posted: 2005-09-16
• Primary Completion: 2008-04
• Study Completion: 2008-04
• Status Verified: 2011-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-10-17
• Last Update Posted: 2011-10-18

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 62

Inclusion Criteria

• Admitted to the stroke unit with a diagnosis of stroke
• Living in the city of Trondheim
• Included 4 - 14 days after first sign of symptoms
• Modified Rankin Scale > 3 before admission to hospital
• Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) less than 58 points and more than 14 points
• SSS leg item less than 6 points or SSS movement item less than 12 points
• Discharged to home or a rehabilitation clinic
• Mini Mental State Examination Score more than 20 points
• Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Seriously heart- and lung-diseases
• Other diseases which makes it difficult to evaluate the function
• Already included in the trial

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
A	Physical therapy technique and exercises	Intensive task specific balance training
B	Physical therapy technique and exercises	Traditional physical therapy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Berg Balance Scale	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up and six months follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mini Mental State Examination	Inclusion
Scandinavian Stroke Scale	Inclusion
Motor Assessment Scale	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Timed Up and Go	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Step Test	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Walking speed	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Barthel Index	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Modified Rankin Scale	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Fall Efficacy Scale	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up
Stroke Impact Scale	Inclusion, four weeks follow-up, twelve weeks follow-up, six months follow-up

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Norwegian University of Science and Technology; 🇳🇴 Trondheim, Norway