Task-oriented training and lower limb strengthening to improve balance and function after stroke: a pilot study

This study investigated the effects of task-oriented training and strengthening of the affected lower limb on balance and function in people who have suffered a stroke. Sixteen male adults, with a mean age of 58 (SD 6.3) years, undergoing outpatient physiotherapy less than 1 month after a single stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery were recruited. Participants were allocated to one of two groups: the strengthening group (SG) or control group (CG). The main measures used were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Barthel Index (BI) and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). After 12 weeks of intervention, both groups showed improvements in outcome measures. For BBS, there was a significant difference between groups, with an increase of 26 points in the SG and 11 points in the CG. For BI, the SG improved by 39 points and the CG improved by 22 points. After intervention, the difference between groups was not significant. For MAS, differences were not significant, showing that for both groups intervention programmes did not increase spasticity. In conclusion, physiotherapy intervention for postural control dysfunctions after stroke seems to benefit from strength training of the affected lower limb and the practising functional tasks. A large randomized controlled trial is recommended to further investigate the effects of this intervention.