None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
To date, there are no evidence-based and feasible physical activity interventions for reducing fatigue and risk of chronic disease within the hospital inpatient setting after stroke. This pilot study has been based on (1) published results that identifies a relationship between low levels of activity and increased fatigue in people with stroke (2) known benefits of physical activity on risk of chronic disease and (3) low levels of daily activity observed across all phases of stroke recovery. This pilot study explores an intervention which uses commerical accelerometer feedback within the hospital inpatient setting to assist stroke survivors in achieving activity guidelines for health benefits. 30 mild-moderately disabled stroke survivors will be randomised into an experimental or control group 2 to 28-days after their stroke. Participants in the experimental group will complete a 6-week activity program with a weekly review by a physiotherapist. At the review, activity goals will be set to gradually increase daily step count (based on the participant’s daily step count from the preceding week) and increase time in moderate intensity walking bouts >10minutes duration via a graded protocol (i.e. gradual increase in time spent in moderate intensity activity per day). Participants will wear a FitbitCharge HR daily, which will provide real-time feedback on steps and heart rate to assist participants in meeting daily activity goals. Participants in the control group will receive a weekly one-on-one 60-minute session with a physiotherapist to match dose of supervised sessions. This session will be a face-to-face session either within the rehabilitation gym, or when discharged home prior to the 6th week, within the participant’s home with a registered physiotherapist. Outcomes including fatigue severity, daily activity, risk of disease and functional recovery following stroke will be measured at baseline, post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. Feasibility of intervention and measurement protocols, participant adherence and satisfaction, adverse effects and ease of implementation will be determined.
Interventions
Participants in the intervention group will receive a 6-week activity program to be performed independently, and a wrist-worn accelerometer. They will attend a weekly 60 minute one-on-one review session where a physiotherapist will review accelerometer data and assist the participant to develop goals and strategies to increase daily step count (up to 10,000 steps/day) and progressively increase the number of 10-minute moderate intensity activity bouts (up to 30minutes/day). Participants will wea
Participants in the intervention group will receive a 6-week activity program to be performed independently, and a wrist-worn accelerometer. They will attend a weekly 60 minute one-on-one review session where a physiotherapist will review accelerometer data and assist the participant to develop goals and strategies to increase daily step count (up to 10,000 steps/day) and progressively increase the number of 10-minute moderate intensity activity bouts (up to 30minutes/day). Participants will wear a FitbitCharge HR continuously for 24-hours each day during the 6-week intervention period, which will provide real-time feedback on steps and heart rate to assist them in meeting daily activity goals. At each weekly session, the investigator will review accelerometer data and assist the participant to develop goals and strategies to progressively increase daily step count and the number of 10-minute moderate intensity activity bouts. Strategies to increase volume and intensity of activity will be discussed. At each weekly session, the participant will perform a supervised exercise session that addresses their goals and strategies. The mode, volume and intensity will be individualized. All participants in the intervention group will receive usual care and therapy prescribed by the rehabilitation team.
Sponsors
University of Canberra
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(1) diagnosed with stroke within the past 2 to 28 days, (2) aged > 18 years (3) able to walk independently 10 metres and (4) medically stable.
Exclusion criteria
(1) a diagnosis of any other neurological condition, (2) co-morbidities limiting walking prior to stroke or (3) unable to follow 3-stage commands.
Outcome results
None listed