Activity Counselling for Stroke

Overseen By Aishwarya Shenoy

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Unstable cardiac, Recent fracture, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help stroke survivors stay active as they transition from rehab to home by using wearable sensors and goal-setting sessions. Participants will wear sensors to track activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior. Some will receive personalized feedback and goal-setting assistance from a physiotherapist to boost activity levels through Activity Counselling. This trial suits individuals who have experienced a stroke affecting one side of their body and can communicate in English or have someone to assist them. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance recovery strategies for stroke survivors.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It would be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for stroke survivors?

Research shows that activity counseling is safe for people recovering from a stroke. Studies have found that physical activity, including professionally guided exercise, aids recovery. It can improve movement and enhance thinking and memory skills. Physical rehabilitation, such as activity counseling, also reduces the risk of complications and improves quality of life.

These studies provide strong evidence that this approach is well-tolerated and beneficial for stroke survivors. No reports of harmful effects from activity counseling have emerged in these studies. Participants in a trial involving activity counseling can feel confident in its safety based on this evidence. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a novel approach to post-stroke recovery through activity counseling combined with sensor technology. Unlike traditional rehabilitation, which often relies on in-clinic therapy sessions, this method allows for personalized, ongoing feedback and goal-setting outside of clinical settings. By wearing sensors, participants receive real-time insights into their activity levels, which are then used to tailor their rehabilitation through specific goals set with a physiotherapist. This proactive and personalized approach could enhance motivation and improve functional recovery more effectively than standard practices alone.

What evidence suggests that activity counselling is effective for stroke recovery?

In this trial, participants will engage in different approaches to support stroke recovery. One group will receive Sensors and Activity Counselling, wearing sensors for one week and participating in goal-setting sessions with a physiotherapist at baseline, 3, and 7 weeks post-discharge. Another group will wear sensors for one week at four different time points. Previous studies have shown that personalized rehabilitation programs can improve balance, walking, and muscle strength in stroke survivors. Research indicates that starting rehabilitation exercises soon after a stroke can be very effective. Activity-based, task-focused training has proven valuable in stroke recovery. These treatments help individuals regain abilities and stay active, which is crucial during the transition from rehabilitation to home. Overall, activity counseling combined with personal goal-setting can greatly support stroke recovery. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for stroke survivors with hemiparesis, who are English-speaking or have an English-speaking family member to help. It's also for physiotherapists with at least one year of experience in stroke rehab. Participants must be over 18 and registered at GF Strong Rehab Centre.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.

I had a stroke that caused weakness on one side of my body.

I speak English or live with someone who does and can help me communicate.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have any unstable health conditions like heart problems or recent fractures.

Physiotherapist Focus Group:

Less than 1 year of experience in stroke rehabilitation

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-Discharge Monitoring

Participants wear sensors for one week prior to discharge from inpatient rehabilitation

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Post-Discharge Monitoring and Intervention

Participants wear sensors and receive goal setting sessions at 3 and 7 weeks post-discharge

7 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in activity levels and interviewed about their experiences with the sensors

3 months

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Activity Counselling

Trial Overview The study tests if wearing sensors that track activity, sleep, and sedentary behavior can help maintain activity levels after leaving rehab. Only some participants will get feedback from these sensors to set goals with a physiotherapist.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Sensors and Activity Counselling Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will wear the sensors for a one week period and receive a goal setting session with a physiotherapist at baseline, 3-and 7-weeks post discharge.

Group II: Sensors only Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will only wear the sensors for a one week period during the 4 different time points.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Citations

1. obrienphysicaltherapy.net obrienphysicaltherapy.net/blog/post-stroke-rehabilitation-outcomes-statistics-on-physical-therapy-effectiveness

Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes: Statistics on Physical ... Evidence consistently shows that tailored rehabilitation programs can enhance functional outcomes such as balance, gait, and muscle strength.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9566624/

Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Exercise in Improving Physical ... In particular, studies show that applying rehabilitation exercise early after stroke is effective [11]. However, as physical or occupational ...

3. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/strokeaha.122.041098

Rehabilitation Therapy Doses Are Low After Stroke and ... Therapy counts were low overall, with most therapy delivered within the first 3 months; 35.0% of patients received no physical therapy; 48.8%, ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1402729/full

Stroke rehabilitation: from diagnosis to therapy This paper provides a thorough exploration of rehabilitation strategies in stroke management, focusing on diagnostic methods, acute management, and diverse ...

5. research.aota.org research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/78/2/7802180070/25090/Effectiveness-of-Activity-Based-Task-Oriented?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Effectiveness of Activity-Based Task-Oriented Training on ... This systematic review shows the value of upper extremity task-oriented training as an effective intervention in stroke rehabilitation.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12434964/

Physical activity interventions for post-stroke cognitive recovery Multi-modal exercise has been demonstrated to substantially enhance cognitive function in individuals who have suffered from strokes, enhancing ...

7. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2804371

Physical Activity Trajectories and Functional Recovery After ... Results of this study suggest that increased physical activity was associated with functional recovery 6 months after stroke.

8. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000493

Improving Access to Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Assessing patient outcomes after rehabilitation typically relies on administrative data sources, which lack crucial information on prognosis ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10216461/

A Comprehensive Review of Physical Therapy Interventions ... Physical rehabilitation can reduce or prevent known complications in stroke patients while also improving their quality of life. Therapists ...