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

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.