Exercise leads to faster postural reflexes, improved balance and mobility, and fewer falls in older persons with chronic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of two different community-based group exercise programs on functional balance, mobility, postural reflexes, and falls in older adults with chronic stroke.


METHODS
A randomized, clinical trial.


METHODS
Community center.


METHODS
Sixty-one community-dwelling older adults with chronic stroke.


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to an agility (n=30) or stretching/weight-shifting (n=31) exercise group. Both groups exercised three times a week for 10 weeks.


METHODS
Participants were assessed before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention for Berg Balance, Timed Up and Go, step reaction time, Activities-specific Balance Confidence, and Nottingham Health Profile. Testing of standing postural reflexes and induced falls evoked by a translating platform was also performed. In addition, falls in the community were tracked for 1 year from the start of the interventions.


RESULTS
Although exercise led to improvements in all clinical outcome measures for both groups, the agility group demonstrated greater improvement in step reaction time and paretic rectus femoris postural reflex onset latency than the stretching/weight-shifting group. In addition, the agility group experienced fewer induced falls on the platform.


CONCLUSIONS
Group exercise programs that include agility or stretching/weight shifting exercises improve postural reflexes, functional balance, and mobility and may lead to a reduction of falls in older adults with stroke.
Marigold
Daniel S
DS
Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Rehab Research Laboratory, G.F. Strong Rehab Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Eng
Janice J
JJ
Dawson
Andrew S
AS
Inglis
J Timothy
JT
Harris
Jocelyn E
JE
Gylfadóttir
Sif
S
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003153:Community Health Services; D015897:Comorbidity; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D012018:Reflex; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
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