A Novel Ballet-inspired Low-impact At-home Workout Programme for Adults with Stroke

Feasibility of a Novel Ballet-inspired Low-impact At-home Workout Programme to Improve Balance, Gait and Memory in Adults with Stroke: a Mixed Methods Exploratory Trial

To explore the feasibility of a novel ballet-inspired low-impact at-home workout programme for community-dwelling stroke survivors in Hong Kong.

A mixed methods exploratory study incorporating a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and qualitative evaluation will be conducted. A total of 40 stroke participants will be recruited from two acute public hospitals. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the interention and usual care, or usual care only. Data will be collected in multiple forms: recruitment/retention rates, adherence to the intervention, journals, field notes, verbal feedback, audio records, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires on outcomes (balance, confidence in balance, gait, walking endurance). This study is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Findings will address the cross-cultural applicability of dance interventions and lay the groundwork for examination in a larger-RCT about its effects on survivors' balance, gait and memory.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. aged 18 years or above
2. clinically diagnosed with a first-ever ischaemic/ haemorrhagic stroke
3. living in home settings
4. mild-moderate lower limb paresis with a modified Functional Ambulation Classification (MFAC) of III (Dependent walker) or above
5. a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score>20
6. able to follow three-step directions
7. able to communicate in Cantonese and read Traditional Chinese
8. their hearing and/or visual disturbances corrected by hearing aids and/or glasses
9. consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. diagnosed with transcient ischaemic attack, subdural or epidural haemorrhage
2. experienced cerebrovascular events due to tumours or head trauma
3. have pre-existing neurological, cardiovascular or orthopaedic conditions that contradict participation in dancing such as shoulder dislocation, myocardial infarction, seizures or acutes illness
4. mental condition such as depression, schizophrenia or personality disorder
5. incomprehensible speech
6. severe hearing and/or visual disturbance