EFFECTS of OTAGO EXERCISES in ADDITION to ROUTINE PHYSICAL THERAPY on BALANCE and FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES in PATIENTS with STROKE.

Summary

Stroke is an extremely severe medical condition which is ranked as the second biggest cause of death worldwide as it claims an estimated 5.5 million lives per year. A stroke can result in enduring brain injury, prolonged disability, or fatality (Tsao et al., 2023) . There are two major types of stroke: Hemorrhagic stroke and Ischemic stroke. The most prevalent type is Ischemic, accounting for approximately 87% of strokes worldwide. It arises from a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain (Collaborators, 2022) . Also, the affected brain areas can result in functional limitations, cognitive changes, and emotional difficulties (Fihla, 2024) .

Moreover, given the potential cost-effectiveness of OEP compared to more intensive rehabilitation methods, its implementation could offer a pragmatic solution to improving the quality of life for individuals grappling with the enduring consequences of ischemic stroke.

Therefore, exploring the effectiveness of OEP in this specific population holds promise for advancing stroke rehabilitation strategies and potentially improving the lives of individuals living with the long-term effects of ischemic stroke.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Balance
• Ischemic Stroke
• Function
• OEP

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Modified Otago Exercise with Routine care Physical therapy

To improve the efficacy of the balance improvement intervention, we modified the OEP by incorporating the additional walking, recommended by the OEP guidelines, into a single exercise session and conducting it as a group exercise program in accordance with a previous meta-analysis (Chiu et al., 2021) . As shown in Figure 1, the modified-OEP group intervention consisted of 15 min of walking followed by a 30 min Otago Exercise Program consisting of balance and strength training, followed by another 15 min of walking. The 15 min walking was accomplished through continuous walking at an individual pace in the \~15m training room. Participants were asked to walk 15 m, make a U-turn towards the left side, walk 15 m, then make a U-turn towards the right side at the next turning point, in order to achieve an equivalent effect on the promoted benefit of symmetry when turning left and right. This was repeated until the session was complete.

BEHAVIORAL

Routine Care Physical Therapy

The routine care physical therapy session typically involves a variety of exercises aimed at general strengthening, stretching, and basic gait training. 1 hour of standard physiotherapy exercises focusing on general strengthening, stretching, and basic gait training. The session included a combination of exercises aimed at general strengthening, such as core stability exercises, muscle-strengthening exercises with weights or resistance bands and functional movements like squats and lunges. Stretching exercises targeting key muscle groups like hamstrings will be incorporated to improve flexibility and range of motion. Gait training will focus on activities like side lunges, step-ups, and balance exercises to enhance walking ability and postural control. Additionally, the plan emphasized progressive challenges incorporating a mix of static and dynamic balance exercises using tools like foam pads or balance boards.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mehwish Saghir, MS Neuro · University of Lahore

• Sana Ikram, MS MSK · University of Lahore

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-25

Primary Completion

2024-11-13

Completion

2024-12-19

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations