title: Running training after stroke: a single-subject report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although many people who have had a stroke are primarily interested in learning to walk, some are able to focus on a return to recreational and sporting activities. This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the use of intensive task-oriented training in the body-weight-support/treadmill environment to improve running for a subject after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subject was a 38-year-old man who had a stroke 2.5 years previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-subject design with baseline, intervention, immediate postintervention, and 6-month postintervention phases was conducted. Dependent variables included 25-m sprint time, single-leg balance, running step width, running step length ratio, Stroke Impact Scale, 6-minute walk test, and lower-extremity strength (force-generating capacity).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 6-month postintervention phase, sprint speed, left single-leg balance, and step width changed significantly from the baseline phase. Step length ratio trended toward less symmetry but more consistency, and muscle strength improved more than 20% in 6 of 8 muscle groups in the involved lower extremity and 4 of 8 muscle groups in the uninvolved lower extremity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensive task-specific training was feasible and effective for retraining running ability in the study subject. He returned to recreational running, which provided him with a greatly improved outlook and a better quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Center for Aging and Community, University of Indianapolis, 901 S Shelby, Indianapolis, IN 46203, USA. emiller@uindy.edu
authors.forename: Ellen W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bense
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010807:Physical Endurance; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis