What do acute stroke physiotherapists do to treat postural control and mobility? An exploration of the content of therapy in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the content of acute stroke physiotherapy to treat postural control and mobility problems.


METHODS
Stroke physiotherapists recorded the interventions used to treat postural control and mobility during treatment sessions. They recorded five sessions for at least five patients each. Descriptive statistics assessed the frequency with which the interventions were used.


METHODS
Hospital-based acute stroke care.


METHODS
Thirty-six acute stroke physiotherapists recorded 2374 interventions in 364 treatment sessions for 76 patients.


METHODS
The Stroke Physiotherapy Intervention Recording Tool.


RESULTS
Facilitation techniques were the most frequently used interventions (n = 1258, 53%) with exercise (n = 115, 5%), teaching others how to help the patient (n = 99, 4%) and provision of equipment (n = 63, 3%) the least frequently used.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute stroke physiotherapists primarily use therapist-led 'hands-on' interventions to treat postural control and mobility problems. Interventions to promote activity or practice outside the treatment session are infrequently used.
Centre for Rehabilitation and Human Performance Research, University of Salford, Salford. s.tyson@salford.ac.uk.
Sarah F
SF
Tyson
Louise
L
Connell
Monica
M
Busse
Sheila
S
Lennon
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D004434:Early Ambulation / Q000379:methods*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom