Effects of task-oriented circuit training on balance and gait ability in subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Kyoung Kim, Sang In Jung, Dong Kyu Lee
PMID 28626306WHAT IT FOUND
Task-oriented circuit training improved walking endurance more than conventional therapy in subacute stroke patients.
The circuit group walked 336.7 meters after 6 minutes, compared to 202.8 meters in the control group. Both groups improved balance and speed, but only endurance differed significantly.
Key findings
01The experimental group achieved a significantly greater improvement in the 6-minute walk test compared to the control group (p=0.01).
02Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, and Functional Ambulation Category, but there were no significant differences between the groups for these measures.
03Participants in the experimental group received task-oriented circuit training in addition to conventional neuro-developmental treatment, while the control group received conventional therapy only.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study had no follow-up period, so it is unknown if the improvements in walking endurance were maintained after the intervention ended. The sample size was small (n=30), which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Stroke severity was not measured, and participants were required to be able to walk at least 10 meters, so the results may not apply to more severely impaired patients. The control group received conventional therapy that also included task-oriented exercises, which may have diluted the observed difference between groups.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that circuit training is superior for all aspects of gait recovery. While it significantly improved walking endurance compared to conventional therapy, there was no significant difference between the groups in balance, gait speed, or functional ambulation category scores.