title: Partnering to increase access to community exercise programs for people with stroke, acquired brain injury, and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this article is to describe the development and evaluation of a task-oriented group exercise program, delivered through a municipal recreation program, for community-dwelling people with neurological conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical therapists (PTs) at a rehabilitation hospital partnered with a municipal recreation provider to develop and evaluate a 12-week exercise program for people with stroke, acquired brain injury, and multiple sclerosis at 2 community centers. Fitness instructors who were trained and supported by PTs taught 1-hour exercise classes twice a week. In a program evaluation of the safety, feasibility and effects of the program, standardized measures of physical function were administered before and after the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen individuals (mean age: 63 years) participated and attended 92% of exercise classes, on average. Two minor adverse events occurred during 293 attendances. Improvement in mean score on all measures was observed. In people with stroke, a statistically significant improvement in mean Berg Balance Scale (mean ± SD change = 3 ± 2 points, P = .016, n = 7) and 6-minute walk test scores (change = 26 ± 26 m, P = .017, n = 9) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This model of exercise delivery provides people with neurological conditions with access to a safe, feasible and potentially beneficial exercise program in the community.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nancy Margaret
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Salbach
authors.forename: Jo-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brunton
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salisbury
authors.forename: Lorene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodiam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D020446:Fitness Centers / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009864:Ontario; D059825:Physical Therapists; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011998:Recreation; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D000078329:Workforce