Monitoring Step Activity During Task-Oriented Circuit Training in High-Functioning Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Proof-of-Concept Feasibility Study.
10.5535/arm.2016.40.6.989
- Author:
Sofia STRAUDI
1
;
Carlotta MARTINUZZI
;
Andrea BARONI
;
Maria Grazia BENEDETTI
;
Calogero FOTI
;
Amira SABBAGH CHARABATI
;
Claudia PAVARELLI
;
Nino BASAGLIA
Author Information
1. Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. s.straudi@ospfe.it
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Stroke;
Rehabilitation;
Gait
- MeSH:
Circuit-Based Exercise*;
Feasibility Studies*;
Gait;
Humans;
Outcome Assessment (Health Care);
Rehabilitation;
Stroke*;
Survivors*;
Walking
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2016;40(6):989-997
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To explore the amount of practice and progression during task-oriented circuit training (TOCT) in chronic stroke survivors; to test the use of pedometers and observation-based measures in detecting step activity; to verify the possible correlation between step activity and locomotor function improvements. METHODS: Six community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors underwent 10 TOCT sessions (2 hours/each) over 2 weeks in which they were trained both on a treadmill and on six task-oriented workstations (W1–W6). During the sessions, they wore a piezoelectric pedometer and step activities were recorded. Outcome measures were as follows: % of activities during which pedometers worked properly; pedometer-based measures (total step counts, treadmill steps, workstation steps—total and W2,W3,W5,W6); observation-based measures (number of repetitions in task W1 and W4); walking speed changes measured by the 10-m walking test (10MWT) and walking endurance changes (6-minute walking test) after TOCT. RESULTS: During TOCT sessions (n=57), activities were recorded through pedometer-based measures in 4 out of the 6 patients. The total amount of step activity was 5,980.05±1,968.39 steps (54.29% in task-oriented workstations, 37.67% on treadmill, and 8.03% during breaks). Exercise progression was highlighted significantly by observational measures (W1, W4). A positive correlation was observed between increased gait speed and observational stair step repetitions progression (W1) (r=0.91, p=0.01) or pedometer-based tandem exercise step progression (W3) (r=0.98, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: TOCT can be considered a high-intensity, progressive intervention to restore locomotor function in chronic stroke survivors. Pedometer-based measures might help in quantifying TOCT's volume of practice; however, further investigations are required.
