Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Improving Walking and Balance Among Stroke Survivors?

Could Telerehabilitation be a Promising Tool in Improving Walking and Balance Among Stroke Survivors? "Case Study"

A good rehabilitation program may not be accessible for all individuals living with stroke due to cost, transportation and compliance. Telerehabilitation is an alternative health care program that may help in overcoming this issue. In this study we aim to find if the use of telerehabilitation in Saudi Arabia would improve balance and walking in stroke survivors during this pandemic.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Home-based exercise program

Detailed Description

Background: Rehabilitation program is commonly provided after stroke to improve functional outcomes. A good rehabilitation program may not be accessible for all individuals living with stroke due to cost, transportation and compliance. Telerehabilitation is an alternative health care program that has been used to provide therapy for stroke survivors living in rural areas. With COVID-19 pandemic, many stroke survivors have lost their access to rehabilitation. Therefore, telerehabilitation may help in overcoming this issue. In this study we aim to find if the use of telerehabilitation in Saudi Arabia would improve balance and walking in stroke survivors during this pandemic.

Methods: 2 stroke survivors ( male and female/ >6 months post stroke) are included in this case study. Participants will receive a task-specific activity training (3days/week moderate exercises for 4 weeks) Both participants will provide feedback through questionnaires pre and post the 4 weeks intervention. We will use the Activities- specific balance confidence (ABC) scale, Lower limb functional scale (LEFS) and Stroke severity quality of life scale ( SS-Qol).

• Intervention: The participants will follow a home-based exercise through videos with follow up from the therapists for 4 weeks.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 2
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Saudi Arabia
  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11451
    • King Saud University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who have been diagnosed with stroke 6 months or more.
• Either right or left hemiparesis.
• Subjects able to walk with or without assistive device.
• age between 40-70. 5) Subjects can understand and follow commands.

Exclusion Criteria:

• subjects with uncontrolled Blood pressure, heart rate or breathing problems.
• Having an orthopedic problem or pain that limits walking and standing.
• Subject with vestibular disorders.
• Subjects with cognitive disorders. 5) Subjects with hemi spatial neglect

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Stroke survivors participants; Subjects who have been diagnosed with stroke 6 months or more. 1)Either right and left hemiparesis. 2) Subjects able to walk with or without assistive device. 3) age between 40-80. 4) Subjects can understand and follow commands. Exclusion criteria is: 1) subjects with uncontrolled Blood pressure, heart rate or breathing problems. 2) Having an orthopedic problem or

Other: Home-based exercise program; The exercise program will include task specific training to improve balance and the training will progress every two weeks. A Physical therapist will be following up and monitoring the participants adherence to the training by audio or video call. The exercise program for Week 1: Sit to Stand 5 times, Steps forward, backward and to the sides 5 times, 10 meters walk. 45 minutes session /3 times per week. Week 2: Sit to stand 10 times, Steps forward, backward and to the sides 5 times , Sit and reach 5 min for each hand and walk for 15 meters. 45 minutes session, 3 times per week. Week3 Sit to stand 10 times, Step on bench 5 times, Stand and reach 5 and walk for 15 meters. 45 minutes session, 3 times per week. Week 4 Stand and reach 5 times, Step on bench 10 times, climbing stairs (5 steps flight stairs up and down) and walk for 20 meters. 50 minutes session, 3 times per week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of balance confidence -The Activities- specific balance confidence (ABC) scale	Consists of 16 items scored from 0% to 100%, with 0 % equate no confidence and 100% equate total confidence. The higher score indicates higher balance confidence	pre and post intervention (1st and 4th week)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in lower extremity function - The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS)	consisted of 20 question to evaluate the lower limb functional impairment.The lower score equates greater disability	pre and post intervention (1st and 4th week)
Change in Quality of life - Stroke Specific Quality Of Life scale (SS-QOL	measure aspects related to quality of life and designed specifically for stroke survivors	pre and post intervention (1st and 4th week)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: King Saud University
• Investigators: Study Director: Almarwani, PhD, Assistant professor at King Saud university

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 28, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): April 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 6, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: Tele-rehabilitaion exercises

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No