Innovative Physiotherapy in Stroke Rehabilitation

Innovative Physiotherapy in Stroke Rehabilitation During the Subacute Stage - a Prospective Randomized Single Blinded Controlled Trial and a Qualitative Study

The current study has the potential to improve rehabilitation during the subacute phase of a stroke, aiming to reduce the individual's disabilities and risk of falling, enhance health promoting physical activity and independence in ADL.

The purpose of the RCT is to investigate the effects of an innovative physiotherapy intervention, called I-CoreDIST when applied in comprehensive rehabilitation after discharge from a stroke unit and throughout the rehabilitation chain.The project investigate: 1) effects on postural control and balance in various positions and functional activities. Effects on and level of physical activity, and 2) user's identifications of positive and negative features in content and coordination of physiotherapy integrated in post stroke rehabilitation. Function parameters of balance, gait and levels of physical activity at baseline and at 12 weeks will be compared to those obtained from the standard care group. Semistructured interviews will be conducted to identify patients' perceptions of key positive and negative features of content and coordination of I-CoreDIST and standard care rehabilitation after a stroke.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A stroke diagnosis
• Can sit for 10 seconds without support
• Age 18-85
• Trunk Impairment Scale-Norwegian version (TIS-NV) < 15
• Pre-stroke modified Ranking Scale (mRS) 0-3

Exclusion Criteria:

• Dementia
• Unable to cooperate in physiotherapy
• On-going substance abuse
• Severe co-morbidity preventing rehabilitation, severe neurological diseases such as Parkinson disease, Multiple Sclerosis and brain tumor.