Partnering to increase access to community exercise programs for people with stroke, acquired brain injury, and multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of physical activity & health Vol. 11; no. 4; p. 838
• Main Authors: Salbach, Nancy Margaret, Howe, Jo-Anne, Brunton, Karen, Salisbury, Kathryn, Bodiam, Lorene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Brain Injuries - rehabilitation; Exercise Therapy - manpower; Exercise Therapy - methods; Exercise Therapy - organization & administration; Female; Fitness Centers - manpower; Fitness Centers - methods; Fitness Centers - organization & administration; Health Services Accessibility - organization & administration; Humans; Interinstitutional Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis - rehabilitation; Nervous System Diseases - rehabilitation; Ontario; Physical Therapists; Program Evaluation; Recreation; Stroke Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1543-5474
• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2012-0183

The purpose of this article is to describe the development and evaluation of a task-oriented group exercise program, delivered through a municipal recreation program, for community-dwelling people with neurological conditions. Physical therapists (PTs) at a rehabilitation hospital partnered with a municipal recreation provider to develop and evaluate a 12-week exercise program for people with stroke, acquired brain injury, and multiple sclerosis at 2 community centers. Fitness instructors who were trained and supported by PTs taught 1-hour exercise classes twice a week. In a program evaluation of the safety, feasibility and effects of the program, standardized measures of physical function were administered before and after the program. Fourteen individuals (mean age: 63 years) participated and attended 92% of exercise classes, on average. Two minor adverse events occurred during 293 attendances. Improvement in mean score on all measures was observed. In people with stroke, a statistically significant improvement in mean Berg Balance Scale (mean ± SD change = 3 ± 2 points, P = .016, n = 7) and 6-minute walk test scores (change = 26 ± 26 m, P = .017, n = 9) was observed. This model of exercise delivery provides people with neurological conditions with access to a safe, feasible and potentially beneficial exercise program in the community.