Comparison of Two High-intensity Gait Training Interventions on Contraversive Pushing Behaviors in Individuals Poststroke

The 10 Meter Walk Test is a common clinical measure of gait speed. Participants are directed to walk at their comfortable, self-selected speed. Participants are positioned at the start line and instructed to walk the entire 10 meter distance while the therapist times the middle six meters. The two meter distance before and after the timed course is meant to minimize the effect of acceleration and deceleration. Time is recorded to the one hundredth of a second (example: 2.46 seconds). The test is performed two times at self-selected speed. The average of the two times is used to calculate velocity in m/s. The minimum gait speed is zero meters/second meaning the participant is unable to ambulate without someone else dependently advancing his/her limb or 2 or more people are required to assist with ambulation. There is no set maximum score. A higher score in meters/second means the participant can ambulate at a faster velocity or gait speed, which is better.

The 6 Minute Walk Test measures the distance a participant can walk indoors on a flat, hard surface in a period of six minutes. The test is a reliable and valid evaluation of functional exercise capacity and is used as a sub-maximal test of aerobic capacity and endurance. The test is self-paced. Participants are allowed to stop and rest during the test; however, the timer does not stop. If a participant is unable to complete the time, the time stopped is noted and reason for stopping prematurely is recorded. Appropriate assistive devices, bracing, and the minimal amount of physical assistance from the physical therapist will be applied. Minimum score is zero meters, meaning the participant is unable to ambulate in any given time. There is no set maximum score as the participant is instructed to ambulate the longest distance possible in six minutes. This test is typically measured in meters or feet. A higher value indicates the participant walked a further distance, which is better.

The Berg Balance Scale is a 14-item test, scored on a five point ordinal scale. It measures functional balance in a clinical setting and includes static and dynamic tasks (such as sitting, standing, transitioning from sitting to standing, standing on one foot, retrieving an object from the floor), during which participants must maintain their balance. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 56. A higher score is better.

The Function in Sitting Test is a 14-item test of sitting balance, scored on a five point ordinal scale. It measures sensory, motor, proactive, reactive, and steady state balance factors. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 56. A higher score is better.

The Functional Independence Measure is an 18-item test (13 motor tasks, 5 cognitive tasks) for evaluating level of disability and how much assistance is needed for a participant to perform certain activities of daily living. Each item is scored on a seven point ordinal scale, ranging from 1point, indicating total assistance, to 7 points, indicating total independence. A higher score is better. Items include eating, grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting, bladder/bowel management, transfers, locomotion, stairs, comprehension, expression, social interaction, problem solving, and memory.

This is a standardized, evidence-based measure of health care quality used to track clinical performance and outcomes in post-acute care. Items are scored on a six point ordinal scale, ranging from 6-independent to 1-dependent. A higher sore is better. Items can also be coded as participant refuses, not applicable, environmental limitations, not attempted due to medical condition or safety concerns, or unplanned discharge.

Manual Muscle Test is a procedure for evaluating the strength of 16 individual muscles relative to gravity and manual resistance. Instructions are provided to the participant before testing each muscle. A muscle is isolated, and gradual external force is applied at a right angle to the muscle's long axis. Each muscle is scored on a graded scale of "weak" to "strong" based on the participant's ability to resist the external force. The test is first completed for muscles on the unimpaired side to determine normal strength before being repeated on the impaired side. Weaker participants may be tested while lying prone (gravity eliminated). 0 is a minimum score and 5 is the maximum score. A higher score is better.

The purpose of this test is to evaluate a participant's passive range of motion in the joints of the hips, knees, and ankles. The minimum value being 0 degrees and the maximum value varies based on joint. Normative values are different based on joint. Typically, a higher value is better.

The Modified Ashworth Scale is a 6-point ordinal scale used to grade the amount of hypertonicity in individuals with neurological diagnoses. one is scored by passively moving the individual's limb and assessing the amount of resistance to movement felt by the examiner. A score of 0 (minimum) on the scale indicates no increase in tone while a score of 4 (maximum) indicates rigidity. A lower score is better.

The number of steps taken during each training session will be measured using ActiGraph GT9X Link activity monitors. These devices are small accelerometers that can be worn on a belt and/or on the ankle to record steps during an activity. The therapist leading the intervention session will apply the ActiGraph at the beginning of each intervention session and remove it upon completion. The minimum number of steps is 0 and there is no maximum. A higher number of steps in considered better.

The target range of 70-85% of age-predicted maximum heart rate will be calculated for each participant utilizing HRmax = 208 - [0.7 × age] as developed by Tanaka et al in 2001. It is recommended that clinicians should apply moderate to high-intensity walking training to improve walking speed and endurance individuals poststroke. We will record the maximum heart rate, in beats per minute, achieved for participants each gait training session utilizing the Polar OH1 Optical Heart Rate Sensor. There is no maximum or minimum value for this measure. Typically, higher is better.

The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is a tool to measure the subjective report of effort, exertion, and fatigue during physical work. It consists of a 15-point scale from 6-20, in which 6=no exertion and 20=absolute maximum exertion. A higher is correlated with higher intensity. It is presented to the participant in written format with descriptors to standardize the report of perceived exertion across tasks.

The Numerical Rating Pain Scale is used to measure the subjective report of pain intensity. It consists of an 11-point scale, 0-10, in which zero indicates no pain and ten indicates the most intense pain imaginable. A lower sore is better.