Strength training to improve walking after stroke: how physiotherapist, patient and workplace factors influence exercise prescription
Genevieve Tole, Melissa J Raymond, Gavin Williams, Ross A Clark, Anne E Holland
Background:Muscle weakness is well established as the primary impairment that affects walking after stroke and strength training is an effective intervention to improve this muscle weakness. Observation of clinical practice however has highlighted an evidence-practice gap in the implementation of evidence-based strength training guidelines. Objective: To explore perceived barriers and facilitators that influence Australian physiotherapy practices when prescribing strength training with stroke survivors undergoing gait rehabilitation. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of physiotherapists currently providing rehabilitation services to patients followi..
This work was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Author R.A.C. is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council RD Wright Biomedical Fellowship. We would like to thank the physiotherapists that volunteered their time to participate in this study.