Progressive resistance strengthening exercises after stroke: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of progressive resistance strengthening exercises to improve gross motor function and walking in patients receiving intensive rehabilitation after stroke.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Five inpatient rehabilitation programs affiliated with teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Inclusion criteria included less than 6 months poststroke and recovery of the leg stages 3 to 5 on the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment (CMSA).


METHODS
Both groups received conventional physical therapy programs. In addition, the experimental group performed 9 lower-extremity progressive resistance exercises 3 times a week for the duration of their stay, whereas the control group did the same exercises and for the same duration but without resistance.


METHODS
The Disability Inventory of the CMSA and the 2-minute walk test (2MWT) at baseline, 4 weeks, discharge, and 6 months after discharge.


RESULTS
Over the length of stay, the rate of change in the Disability Inventory was.27 points per day in the experimental group and.29 points per day in the control group; the between-group difference was -.02 points per day (95% confidence interval [CI], -.10 to.06; P=.62). At discharge, the rate of change in the 2MWT was -.01 m in the experimental group and.15m in the control group; the between-group difference was -.16 m (95% CI, -.37 to.05; P=.14).


CONCLUSIONS
Progressive resistance strengthening exercises as applied in our study were not effective when compared with the same exercises given without resistance.
St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada. moreland@mcmaster.ca
Julie D
JD
Moreland
Charlie H
CH
Goldsmith
Maria P
MP
Huijbregts
Rosemary E
RE
Anderson
Dawn M
DM
Prentice
Karen B
KB
Brunton
Mary Ann
MA
O'Brien
Wendy D
WD
Torresin
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome