At a glance
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A Novel Strategy to Decrease Fall Incidence Post-Stroke
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Backward Walking Training for Stroke. Completed, enrolled 62 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Approximately 15,000 Veterans are hospitalized for stroke each year with new cases costing an estimated $111 million for acute inpatient, $75 million for post-acute inpatient, and $88 million for follow-up care over 6 months post-stroke. Contributing to these costs is the incidence of falls. Falls are a costly complication for Veterans with stroke as they lead to an increased incidence of fractures, depression, and mortality. New strategies are needed to help Veterans post-stroke regain their ability to safely walk without increasing their risk of falling as well as readily identify those who are a fall risk. This study addresses both of these needs as it will 1) investigate a new treatment approach, backward walking training, to determine if it will decrease fall incidence in the first year post-stroke and 2) determine if backward walking speed early after a stroke can identify those that are at risk for future falls.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
Backward Walking Training will occur both on a treadmill and overground. In brief, BWTraining will consist of 20-30 minutes of step training with a Body Weight Support and Treadmill system (BWST), rest periods provided as warranted, with manual assistance provided by trainers, followed by 15 minutes of overground gait training. A 20-30 min period of actual stepping is the goal for the intervention sessions on the treadmill with rest periods as needed. Each training session may last up to 1 hour and 30 minutes including time for warm-up, stretching, and cool down. Participants will be fitted with a harness around their hips and torso, which will be attached to an overhead support system directly above the treadmill. From a stationary position, the treadmill belt will gradually be increased in speed with intervention trainers assisting participant to step backward with their paretic leg, their non-paretic leg (if needed) and at the hips for weight-shift.