title: Effects of circuit training as alternative to usual physiotherapy after stroke: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the effect of task oriented circuit training compared with usual physiotherapy in terms of self reported walking competency for patients with stroke discharged from a rehabilitation centre to their own home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial with follow-up to 24 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicentre trial in nine outpatient rehabilitation centres in the Netherlands
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with stroke who were able to walk a minimum of 10 m without physical assistance and were discharged from inpatient rehabilitation to an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. Patients were randomly allocated to circuit training or usual physiotherapy, after stratification by rehabilitation centre, with an online randomisation procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in the intervention group received circuit training in 90 minute sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. The training included eight different workstations in a gym and was intended to improve performance in tasks relating to walking competency. The control group received usual outpatient physiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was the mobility domain of the stroke impact scale (SIS, version 3.0). Secondary outcomes were standing balance, self reported abilities, gait speed, walking distance, stair climbing, instrumental activities of daily living, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Differences between groups were analysed according to the intention to treat principle. All outcomes were assessed by blinded observers in a repeated measurement design lasting 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  126 patients were included in the circuit training group and 124 in the usual care group (control), with data from 125 and 117, respectively, available for analysis. One patient from the circuit training group and seven from the control group dropped out. Circuit training was a safe intervention, and no serious adverse events were reported. There were no significant differences between groups for the stroke impact scale mobility domain (β=0.05 (SE 0.68), P=0.943) at 12 weeks. Circuit training was associated with significantly higher scores in terms of gait speed (0.09 m/s (SE 0.02), P<0.001), walking distance (20.0 m (SE 7.4), P=0.007), and modified stairs test (-1.6 s (SE 0.7), P=0.015). There were no significant differences between groups for the other secondary outcomes, except for the leisure domain of the Nottingham extended activities of daily living and the memory and thinking domain of the stroke impact scale. With the exception of gait speed (-0.04 m/s (SE 0.02), P=0.040), there were no significant differences between groups at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Task oriented circuit training can safely replace usual physiotherapy for patients with stroke who are discharged from inpatient rehabilitation to the community and need further training in gait and gait related activities as an outpatient.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Dutch Trial Register (NTR1534).
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid G L
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: van de Port
authors.forename: Lotte E G
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Wevers
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindeman
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwakkel
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009426:Netherlands; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*