Stroke maintenance exercise group: pilot study on daily functioning in long-term stroke survivors.
Typical models of stroke rehabilitation usually direct minimal resources for ongoing maintenance beyond discharge. However, there is increasing recognition of the benefits of community-based rehabilitation to maintain physical function and health in frail and disabled clients. A stroke maintenance exercise group was established to provide long-term care for stroke survivors. A pilot study was conducted to explore its effects compared with a traditional peer support group. Self-reported questionnaires, measuring daily task participation with the Home Functioning Questionnaire and quality of life with the EQ-5D, were utilised to compare twenty-two clients in the stroke maintenance exercise group and twenty-one in the peer support group. The results indicated that both these groups showed a significant increase with daily task participation over a 3-month period. However, no improvement was evident in either group on self-rated quality of life or health status, as measured by the EQ-5D. This pilot study suggests that both stroke maintenance exercise groups and peer support groups are effective with assisting long-term stroke survivors to improve participation in everyday activities. More research is recommended to further explore the long-term needs of this clinical group.
Community Integrated Rehabilitation Service, Logan Central Community Health, PO Box 240, Logan Central, QId 4114, Australia. sarah_patterson@health.qld.gov.au
Sarah A
SA
Patterson
Benjamin M
BM
Ross-Edwards
Hannah L
HL
Gill
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors