Circuit class therapy improves mobility after stroke

January 01, 0001

Circuit class therapy improves mobility after stroke

Clinical Question: How effective is circuit class therapy for improving mobility in adults with stroke?

Bottom line: Circuit class therapy was more effective in improving peopleÕs ability to walk further, longer or faster and to balance more easily and confidently when compared with other types of exercise. Circuit class therapy can be implemented in the post-acute and chronic stages for people with moderate stroke severity. Intensity can vary from daily to three times weekly for four weeks or more to achieve benefits. There is evidence it can reduce length of stay in the inpatient setting. There were no increased risks of falling related to participating in circuit classes.

Caveat:While evidence is strong for the effectiveness of circuit class therapy for improving mobility in people later after stroke who are able to walk independently, the evidence for circuit class therapy for people early after stroke is less clear.

Context: Stroke is a major cause of increased dependence for survivors in many activities of daily life, including the ability to walk and negotiate usual environments. Circuit class therapy offers a supervised group forum for people after stroke to practise tasks, enabling increased practice time, without increasing staffing.

Cochrane Systematic Review:English C and Hillier SL. Circuit class therapy for improving mobility after stroke. Cochrane Reviews, 2010, Issue 7. Article No. CD007513. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007513.pub2. This review contains 6 studies involving 292 participants.

Cochrane PEARLS Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations. No. 280, August 2010. .
Written by Brian R McAvoy. Published by the Cochrane Primary Care Group

Category: K. Circulatory, N. Neurological. Keywords: exercise, stroke, rehabilitation, outcomes
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 14 December 2010

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Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.