Sustaining gait recovery after stroke: The role of continuous recreational therapy-based balance training—A case study

What the paper says

Purpose: This single-case study examined whether a structured, once-weekly recreational therapy (RT) program could facilitate and maintain improvements in a 58-year-old male diagnosed with a cerebrovascular accident resulting in left hemiparesis post-stroke. Methods: This 16-week intervention involved weekly 60-minute sessions, with measurements conducted at baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 3-month follow-up. Each session included a warm-up, muscular strength exercises, balance and postural control training, recreational boxing, and functional movement tasks. Gait parameters (step velocity, step length, and cadence) were assessed via the GAITRite® walkway system, postural sway via the BioSway™ balance system, and perceived fall risk via the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Results: At 16 weeks, step velocity (+94.6 percent), step length R (+50.8 percent), and cadence (+25.4 percent) showed significant improvements, with partial regression observed at follow-up. Balance (–16.6 percent) and fall risk perception (–18.7 percent) initially improved but worsened post-intervention. Effect sizes confirmed strong impacts on gait function (d > 2.4), while balance and fall risk perception showed moderate effects (d ≈ –1.7). Tau-U analysis supported strong intervention effects for step velocity (0.89) and step length R (0.85), reinforcing the therapy’s efficacy but highlighting the need for continued intervention. Conclusion: A once-weekly structured RT program significantly improved gait parameters and balance-related outcomes in a post-stroke individual. However, partial regression post-intervention suggests that continued therapy is necessary to sustain long-term benefits. These findings highlight the potential benefits of low-frequency RT in post-stroke rehabilitation while emphasizing the need for ongoing intervention strategies to maintain functional improvements.