The study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of a task oriented intervention on walking distance, speed and balance efficiency in post stroke patients
Randomized controlled trial
30 individuals with a residual Walking deficit within one year of a first or recurrent stroke consented to participate.
The experimental intervention comprised 5 functional task designed to increase the strength of the lower extremities and enhance walking balance, speed and distance. Both the group received treatment 5 days a week for three weeks.
Six-minute walk test (SMWT), 5-m walk, Berg Balance Scale, timed ‘up and go’.
At baseline, subjects in the experimental (n_/15) and control (n_/15) groups walked an average distance of 152 mts There was statistically significant increase in the distance covered by the experimental group median 152 to 208 mts. There was statistically significant difference in speed in five mts walk test. The experimental group showed increase in the median from 0.55m/s to 0.71m/s. Experimental group showed statistically significant reduction in the time taken to complete the timed Up & Go test. The median decreased to 21 from the pre intervention value of 26.
Study findings support that a task-orientated intervention enhances walking distance, balance and speed in the post stroke patients.
Stroke, Task Oriented Training. Balance, Walking Speed
