Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes With Supported Treadmill Ambulation Training
Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes With Supported Treadmill Ambulation Training
This project seeks to overcome the reduced walking capability, poor health status, decreased functional capacity, and sedentary lifestyle of stroke patients. The specific objectives are to compare the effects of regular inpatient stroke rehabilitation to regular rehabilitation combined with STAT after an acute stroke on: a) gait performance; b) functional outcomes; c) oxygen consumption during a seated task; and finally: d) using Brain Motor Control Assessment to obtain neurophysiological characteristics, as possible predictors of rehabilitation outcomes.
Gait training is often delayed during the rehabilitation process because gait is thought to require preparation such as improved strength, balance, and coordination before the initiation of this more complex and demanding activity. We propose a new approach to perform early gait training with acute stroke patients, which consists of Supported Treadmill Ambulation Training (STAT) combined with conventional rehabilitation for achieving functional ambulation.
Hypotheses: This study will test three hypotheses;
Specific Objectives and Projected Timetable:
Since stroke patients have reduced walking capability, poor health status, decreased functional capacity, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, the specific objectives of this project are:
Timetable: This 3-year project will compare the outcomes between two strategies of intervention during stroke rehabilitation. Admission, randomization, testing, intervention, reevaluation, and discharge will follow the time frame established by the facility while providing regular rehabilitation care for stroke patients. On average, the stroke rehabilitation process lasts two to three weeks.
Recent unilateral stroke patients