Treadmill training post stroke: are there any secondary benefits? A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To explore the secondary benefits of treadmill training for people in the chronic stage of recovery from stroke.

Design: Modified random assignment, matched-pair control group design with repeated measures.

Setting: Outpatient stroke centre.

Participants: Twenty individuals post first stroke who acknowledged walking slower than pre stroke. Participants matched by side of hemiparesis and motor impairment.

Interventions: Twelve 20-minute sessions of walking on a treadmill or weekly phone call.

Main outcome measures: Depression (Beck Depression Index), mobility and social participation (Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 subscales) were assessed initially, at the end of 12 treatments (four weeks) and six weeks later.

Results: No significant difference was found between groups for any dependent measure. The ANOVA to investigate main effects in each group found no significant findings in the control group; however in the treatment group significant improvements over time for depression (P = 0.005, P < 0.001), mobility (P = 0.008) and social participation (P = 0.004) were demonstrated.

Conclusions: A task-specific intervention designed to improve gait speed may potentially provide secondary benefits by positively impacting depression, mobility and social participation for people post stroke.