Alterations in gait velocity and grip strength of stroke survivors following a 12-week structured therapeutic exercise programme

Study aim: This study investigated the alterations in gait velocity and grip strength of stroke survivors following a structured therapeutic exercise programme (STEP). Material and methods: This was a pre-test, post-test experimental study of the effectiveness of a 12-week STEP on gait veloc­ity and grip strength of stroke survivors. A total of 30 hemiparetic stroke survivors participated in the study. The instrument for this study was an adaptation of a training protocol for the training and assessment of gait velocity and grip strength. The participants underwent a 12-week STEP of a frequency of 3 times per week and the training programme focused on exercises aimed at improving the gait velocity and grip strength of the participants. The gait velocity and grip strength were measured before and after the training. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to sum­marize the profile of the participants. The analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. Statistical significance was accepted for a p value of <0.05. Results: The outcome of this study showed that the STEP had significant (p < 0.05) effects on the gait velocity and grip strength of stroke survivors. Meanwhile, there was no significant (p > 0.05) effect of haemorrhagic and ischaemic groups of stroke sur­vivors on gait velocity and grip strength.

Conclusion: It was therefore concluded that the use of the STEP can substantially improve the gait velocity and grip strength of stroke survivors.