Abstract

The effects of a task-oriented walking interventions on balance in chronic stroke patients

Author(s): Aysha Khan, Amna Yaseen, Malik Muhammad Atif, Farjad Afzal*, Azfar Khurshid

Stroke is a neurological insufficiency which causes major motor deficits particularly in lower limbs. Task oriented walking intervention is a novel approach used for stroke rehabilitation. The purpose of this research study was to compare the effects of the task oriented walking interventions with the conservative rehabilitation for improvement of balance in the chronic stroke patients. The study was a randomized control trial, conducted in hospital settings. 48 patients with predefined inclusion and Exclusion criteria were selected. Subjects were randomly allocated into 2 groups. After obtaining consent, data was collected via self-structured questionnaire, 06 minutes-walk test, Timed “Up and Go” test, and Berg Balance Scale. Group one received Task-Oriented Walking Intervention interventions and conventional treatment while control group received conventional interventions only. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 24. The results showed that, there were 54% males and 46% females. After 6 weeks of intervention experimental group receiving task oriented training along with conventional interventions showed significant improvement in balance with P-value <0.005 for all the three scales TUG, BBS and 6MWT as compared to the control group receiving only conventional interventions. Our respective study concluded that patients who were receiving task oriented walking interventions had considerable improvement in balance.