Stroke survivors recover better with stepped-up rehab

By ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News

Karl Tapales, Getty Images
(Karl Tapales, Getty Images)

Stroke survivors in rehabilitation may be able to step things up: A new study says challenging, high-intensity training may help them regain mobility better than traditional, low-impact training.

Stroke survivors' balance often is impaired, and they can have difficulty walking, said study author T. George Hornby in a news release. He's a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.

"Rehabilitation after a stroke traditionally focuses on patients practicing low-intensity walking, usually only in a forward direction, which does not provide enough of a challenge to the nervous system to enable patients to negotiate real-world situations, such as uneven surfaces, stairs or changing direction," he said. "Our study suggests that stroke patients can perform higher-intensity walking exercises and more difficult tasks than previously thought possible."

The study appeared Thursday in the journal .

Researchers evaluated 90 people, ages 18 to 85, who had survived a stroke at least six months earlier and had weakness on one side of their body. Each person received one of three types of training:

– High-intensity stepping, performing tasks such as walking on uneven surfaces, up inclines and stairs, and across a balance beam

– High-intensity stepping that involved only walking forward

– Low-intensity stepping with variable tasks

Survivors in both high-intensity groups were able to walk faster and farther than the low-intensity group. The high-intensity group that did variable tasks also had improved balance.

"Rehabilitation that allows walking practice without challenging the nervous system doesn't do enough to make a statistical or clinically significant difference in a patient's recovery after a stroke," Hornby said. "We found that when stroke patients are pushed harder, they see greater changes in less time, which translates into more efficient rehabilitation services and improved mobility."

Overall, from 57% to 80% of participants in the high-intensity groups had important clinical gains, while only 9% to 31% of participants in low-intensity group did.

Hornby said no harmful side effects were noted during the training sessions.

The study group was small; Hornby said the next step would be to test the training in a larger trial.

"We need to move beyond traditional, low-intensity rehabilitation to challenge the nervous and cardiovascular systems," he said, "so patients can improve function and perform better in the real world."

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].


·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News Stories

·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News stories reflect the official position of the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ scientific journals or presented at ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.