Effects of Task-Specific Locomotor and Strength Training in Adults Who Were Ambulatory After Stroke: Results of the STEPS Randomized Clinical Trial
Background and Purpose
A phase II, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of combined task-specific and lower-extremity (LE) strength training to improve walking ability after stroke.
Subjects
The participants were 80 adults who were ambulatory 4 months to 5 years after a unilateral stroke.
Method
Eligibility criteria age 18 years or older 4 months to 5 years after first-time onset of a ischemic or hemorrhagic CVA able to ambulate at least 14m with an assistive or orthotic device assistance of one person voluntarily provided informed consent approval of their primary care physician to participate
Exclusion criteria Health conditions recent exercise study participation Serious medical conditions
Exercise sessions were 4 times per week for 6 weeks Outcomes were self-selected walking speed, fast walking speed, and 6-minute walk distance measured before and after intervention and at a 6-month follow-up.
BWSTT : body-weight-supported treadmill training CYCLE : limb-loaded resistive leg cycling BWSTT : body-weight-supported treadmill training CYCLE : limb-loaded resistive leg cycling LE-EX : LE muscle-specific progressive-resistive exercise UE-EX : upper-extremity ergometry LE-EX : LE muscle-specific progressive-resistive exercise UE-EX : upper-extremity ergometry BWSTT / UE-EX CYCLE / UE-EX BWSTT / CYCLE BWSTT / LE-EX
Strcjke severity BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX LE-FM motor score (maximum score=34) 24.5 (5.5) 24.4 (4.5) 24.2 (4.0) 22.1 (6.3) Berg Balance Scale (maximum score=56) 42.1 (9.8) 42.6 (11.4) 45.2 (10.1) 40.4 (15.0)
Primary and outcomes at baseline BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Comfortable gait speed (m/s) 0.49 (0.24) 0.48 (0.28) 0.53 (0.28) 0.52 (0.35) Fast gait speed (m/s) 0.69 (0.38) 0.65 (0.42) 0.71 (0.38) 0.76 (0.50) 6-min walk distance (m) (99.9) (115.2) (99.9) (135.4)
After 24 Treatment Sessions
BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Baseline 0.50 (0.23) 0.43 (0.25) 0.54 (0.28) 0.57 (0.35) Pusiintervention 0.63 (0.32) 0.44 (0.26) 0.63 (0.33) 0.67 (0.37) Change 0.13 (0.14) 0.01 (0.07) 0.09 (0.12) 0.10 (0.07) 10-m Comfortable gait speed(m/s)
10-m fast gait speed (m/s) BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Baseline 0.71 (0.37) 0.57 (0.36) 0.73 (0.39) 0.80 (0.51) Pusiintervention 0.81 (0.43) 0.58 (0.39) 0.81 (0.44) 0.90 (0.51) Change 0.10 (0.14) 0.01 (0.09) 0.08 (0.13) 0.10 (0.08)
6-min walk distance (m) BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Baseline (96.4) (99.6) (102.3) (137.87) Pusiintervention (106.0) (118.6) (122.6) (144.57) Change 22.5 (34.8) 15.5 (31.0) 25.5 (37.6) 45.3 (33.5)
6-Month Follow-up
BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Post-session (0.32) 0.44 (0.26) 0.63 (0.33) 0.67 (0.37) 6-mo foliow-up 0.65 (0.33) 0.43 (0.26) 0.64 (0.32) 0.77 (0.03) Change 0.02 (0.11) (0.11) 0.01 (0.10) 0.05 (0.09) 10-m Comfortable gait speed(m/s)
10-m fast gait speed (m/s) BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Post-session (0.43) 0.58 (0.39) 0.81 (0.44) 0.90 (0.51) 6-mo foliow-up 0.82 (0.44) 0.60 (0.42) 0.83 (0.43) 0.94 (0.69) Change 0.01 (0.10) (0.17) 0.02 (0.12) (0.37)
6-min walk distance (m) BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Post-session (106.0) (118.6) (122.6) (144.57) 6-mo foliow-up (116.85) (116.13) (131.31) (133.03) Change 0.04 (55.54) (55.40) (24.70) 0.71 (32.64)
Results
Discussion and Conclusion
BWSTT/UE-EX V.S CYCLE/UE-EX
BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Post-session (0.32) 0.44 (0.26) 0.63 (0.33) 0.67 (0.37) 6-mo foliow-up 0.65 (0.33) 0.43 (0.26) 0.64 (0.32) 0.77 (0.03) Change 0.02 (0.11) (0.11) 0.01 (0.10) 0.05 (0.09) 10-m Comfortable gait speed(m/s)
10-m fast gait speed (m/s) BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Post-session (0.43) 0.58 (0.39) 0.81 (0.44) 0.90 (0.51) 6-mo foliow-up 0.82 (0.44) 0.60 (0.42) 0.83 (0.43) 0.94 (0.69) Change 0.01 (0.10) (0.17) 0.02 (0.12) (0.37)
6-min walk distance (m) BWSTT & UE-EX CYCLE & UE-EX BWSTT & CYCLE BWSTT & LE-EX Post-session (106.0) (118.6) (122.6) (144.57) 6-mo foliow-up (116.85) (116.13) (131.31) (133.03) Change 0.04 (55.54) (55.40) (24.70) 0.71 (32.64)