A randomized controlled evaluation of the efficacy of an ankle-foot cast on walking recovery early after stroke : SWIFT cast trial
Pomeroy, Valerie M. and Rowe, Philip and Clark, Allan and Walker, Andrew and Kerr, Andrew and Chandler, Elizabeth and Barber, Mark and Baron, Jean-Claude (2016) A randomized controlled evaluation of the efficacy of an ankle-foot cast on walking recovery early after stroke : SWIFT cast trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 30 (1). pp. 40-48. ISSN 1545-9683
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Abstract
Background. Timely provision of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) orthotist customized for individuals early after stroke can be problematic. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of a therapist-made AFO (SWIFT Cast) for walking recovery. Methods. This was a randomized controlled, observer-blind trial. Participants (n = 105) were recruited 3 to 42 days poststroke. All received conventional physical therapy (CPT) that included use of “off-the-shelf” and orthotist-made AFOs. People allocated to the experimental group also received a SWIFT Cast for up to 6 weeks. Measures were undertaken before randomization, 6 weeks thereafter (outcome), and at 6 months after stroke (follow-up). The primary measure was walking speed. Clinical efficacy evaluation used analysis of covariance. Results. Use of a SWIFT Cast during CPT sessions was significantly higher (P < .001) for the SWIFT Cast (55%) than the CPT group (3%). The CPT group used an AFO in 26% of CPT sessions, compared with 11% for the SWIFT Cast group (P = .005). At outcome, walking speed was 0.42 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.37) m/s for the CPT group and 0.32 (SD = 0.34) m/s for the SWIFT Cast group. Follow-up walking speed was 0.53 (SD = 0.38) m/s for the CPT group and 0.43 (0.34) m/s for the SWIFT Cast group. Differences, after accounting for minimization factors, were insignificant at outcome (P = .345) and follow-up (P = .360). Conclusion and implications. SWIFT Cast did not enhance the benefit of CPT, but the control group had greater use of another AFO. However, SWIFT Cast remains a clinical option because it is low cost and custom-made by therapists who can readily adapt it during the rehabilitation period.
Creators(s): |
Pomeroy, Valerie M., Rowe, Philip ![]() ![]() | Item type: | Article |
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ID code: | 54094 |
Keywords: | rehabilitation, stroke, orthotics, physical therapy, walking, Bioengineering, Other systems of medicine, Clinical Neurology, Rehabilitation, Neurology |
Subjects: | Technology > Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > Bioengineering Medicine > Other systems of medicine |
Department: | Faculty of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering |
Depositing user: | Pure Administrator |
Date deposited: | 27 Aug 2015 10:55 |
Last modified: | 12 Jan 2021 01:50 |
URI: | https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/54094 |
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