The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a 4-week lower extremity telerehabilitation protocol with aims to improve lower extremity function to a 4-week attention-controlled education program on lower extremity clinical outcomes, quality of life, and healthcare resources utilization among community dwelling adults with stroke across Canada.

With an aging population, and survival rates now at 83% in Canada, the number of stroke survivors is expected to reach 720,000 by 2038. While 90% of individuals with stroke return to independent community living, 80% report residual motor impairment, such as loss or limitation in motor control, or mobility limitation. These limitations have profound effects on the ability to perform everyday activities and are associated with substantial economic strain on the healthcare system. Thus, a primary focus of stroke rehabilitation is on the recovery of motor function, walking and balance, using exercise via physical therapy.

The rapid growth in Internet use and personal mobile devices has opened an array of possibilities for stroke survivors to remotely access specialized rehabilitation from their homes and communities (i.e., telerehabilitation). Telerehabilitation interventions have been used effectively for check-in sessions, education, and counselling after stroke, but knowledge of the effectiveness of using telerehabilitation for the delivery of exercise interventions for lower extremity recovery is limited.

The investigators developed the TeleRehabilitation with Aims to Improve Lower Extremity Recovery Post-Stroke (TRAIL) to address the unmet needs for lower extremity rehabilitation after stroke, and the need for accessible rehabilitation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. TRAIL is an exercise program designed to promote lower extremity recovery using technology with real-time therapist instruction and guidance. The investigators recently conducted a proof-of-concept, single-group feasibility study of TRAIL (TRAIL-PROOF). From TRAIL-PROOF, there were have no reports of serious adverse events and 100% retention of participants. Preliminary analysis of 32 individuals completed also suggest improvements in the clinical outcomes, including increased lower extremity strength, functional balance, and balance self-efficacy. Thus, from TRAIL-PROOF, it is evident that the TRAIL protocol has potential to improve lower extremity function among community-dwelling adults with stroke experiencing lower extremity impairment. The investigators now propose a full-scaled randomized controlled trial to further study the TRAIL program (TRAIL-RCT).

The objectives for TRAIL-RCT are as follows:

1. The primary objective is to compare functional mobility (Timed Up and Go, primary clinical outcome) after 4 weeks of TRAIL to a 4-week attention-controlled education program (EDUCATION) in individuals ≤12 months post-stroke;

2. The secondary objective is to compare the 4-week TRAIL and EDUCATION programs on secondary outcomes of:

   1. Lower extremity strength (30-Second Sit-to Stand test);
   2. Functional balance (Tandem Stand and Functional Reach);
   3. Motor impairment (Virtual Fugl-Meyer Assessment);
   4. Balance self-efficacy (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale);

3. The tertiary objective is to compare the 4-week TRAIL and EDUCATION programs on health economic outcomes:

   1. Health-related quality of life (Stroke Impact Scale, EuroQol-5D-5 Level); and
   2. Health resources and costs (Health Resource Utilization Questionnaire)

4. The quaternary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of a subsequent larger multisite implementation stepped wedge randomized trial of TRAIL using pre-specified criteria related to process, resources, management, and scientific indicators.

It is hypothesized that:

The primary hypothesis is that the 4-week TRAIL program will lead to greater improvement in functional mobility, as measured by the Timed Up and Go, compared to the 4-week EDUCATION program in individuals ≤12 months post-stroke (Objective 1, primary clinical outcome).

The investigators also anticipate that greater improvements will be observed in the secondary clinical outcomes, in the areas of lower extremity muscle strength, motor impairment, functional balance, and balance self-efficacy, following TRAIL compared to EDUCATION (Objective 2).

The tertiary hypothesis is that the TRAIL intervention will demonstrate superior health economic outcomes compared to the EDUCATION group (Objective 3).

The quaternary hypothesis is that the protocol will demonstrate sufficient feasibility (e.g., rates of recruitment/retention, treatment fidelity and adherence, safety, treatment effects) to support a subsequent larger multi-site implementation stepped wedge randomized controlled trial (Objective 4).

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥19 years of age, ≤12 months post-stroke with lower extremity hemiparesis
• Able to walk ≥10 meters with or without a gait aid and without physical assistance of another person
• Can tolerate 50 minutes of activity (including rest breaks)
• Has cognitive-communicative ability to participate, per clinical judgement
• Able to provide consent
• Has a caregiver, friend, or family member available to provide physical support during the assessment sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently participating in formal in- or out-patient stroke rehabilitation focusing on lower extremity training
• Living in long-term care
• Severe vision or hearing loss
• Significant musculoskeletal or other neurological conditions
• Not medically stable
• Comorbidities (e.g. limb amputation), pain or other symptoms that significantly impact lower extremity function
• Planned surgery that would preclude or affect participation in the protocol

The anonymized data collected during the study, the trial protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form will be shared with qualified researchers engaging in independent scientific research, upon request to the research team.

After the study end.

Please contact the research team.

Outcome assessors will be blinded to participants' group allocation, whereby they will not be involved with delivering the TRAIL or EDUCATION programs. Participants are informed of their group assignment, however they will not know if they are in the experimental or control program, and instructed to withhold it from the assessors to ensure proper blinding and minimize internal bias.