A treadmill and overground walking program improves walking in persons residing in the community after stroke: a placebo-controlled, randomized trial

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 84; no. 10; pp. 1486 - 1491
• Main Authors: Ada, Louise, Dean, Catherine M., Hall, Jillian M., Bampton, Julie, Crompton, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Community Health Services; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Diseases of the nervous system; Exercise; Exercise Test - methods; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Hemiplegia; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Paresis - etiology; Paresis - physiopathology; Paresis - rehabilitation; Patient Compliance; Physical therapy techniques; Placebo Effect; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Randomized controlled trials; Rehabilitation; Stroke - complications; Stroke Rehabilitation; Treatment Outcome; Walking; Walking - physiology; Treatment outcome; Walking; Exercise; Hemiplegia; Physical therapy techniques; Rehabilitation; Randomized controlled trials; Prognosis; Cardiovascular disease; Vascular disease; Kinesitherapy; Clinical trial; Community health; Therapeutic schedule; Nursing home; Cerebrovascular disease; Human; Nervous system diseases; Stroke; Physical rehabilitation; Cerebral disorder; Treatment; Central nervous system disease; Placebo; Technique; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-9993(03)00349-6

Ada L, Dean CM, Hall JM, Bampton J, Crompton S. A treadmill and overground walking program improves walking in persons residing in the community after stroke: a placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:1486–91. To evaluate the effectiveness of a treadmill and overground walking program in reducing the disability and handicap associated with poor walking performance after stroke. Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a 3-month follow-up. General community. A volunteer sample of 29 ambulatory individuals (less 2 dropouts) who were living in the community after having suffered a stroke more than 6 months previously. The experimental group participated in a 30-minute treadmill and overground walking program, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The control group received a placebo consisting of a low-intensity, home exercise program and regular telephone contact. Walking speed (over 10m), walking capacity (distance over 6min), and handicap (stroke-adapted 30-item version of the Sickness Impact Profile) measured by a blinded assessor. The 4-week treadmill and overground walking program significantly increased walking speed ( P=.02) and walking capacity ( P<.001), but did not decrease handicap ( P=.85) compared with the placebo program. These gains were largely maintained 3 months after the cessation of training ( P≤.05). The treadmill and overground walking program was effective in improving walking in persons residing in the community after stroke. This suggests that the routine provision of accessible, long-term, community-based walking programs would be beneficial in reducing disability after stroke.