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Running Training After Stroke: A Single-Subject Report

EW Miller, PT, PhD, is Professor of Physical Therapy and Executive Director, Center for Aging and Community, University of Indianapolis, 901 S Shelby, Indianapolis, IN 46203 (USA)
SA Combs, PT, MS, NCS, is Assistant Professor, Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind
C Fish, PT, DPT, is a staff physical therapist, Rehabilitation Services, Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart, Ind
B Bense, PT, DPT, is a staff physical therapist, Rehabilitation Services, Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus, Ind
A Owens, PT, DPT, is a staff physical therapist, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Community Health Network, Indianapolis, Ind
A Burch, PT, MS, is a staff physical therapist, Rehabilitation Services, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler, Ariz

Address all correspondence to Dr Miller at: emiller{at}uindy.edu

Background and Purpose: Although many people who have had a stroke are primarily interested in learning to walk, some are able to focus on a return to recreational and sporting activities. This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the use of intensive task-oriented training in the body-weight–support/treadmill environment to improve running for a subject after stroke.

Subject: The subject was a 38-year-old man who had a stroke 2.5 years previously.

Methods: A single-subject design with baseline, intervention, immediate postintervention, and 6-month postintervention phases was conducted. Dependent variables included 25-m sprint time, single-leg balance, running step width, running step length ratio, Stroke Impact Scale, 6-minute walk test, and lower-extremity strength (force-generating capacity).

Results: At the 6-month postintervention phase, sprint speed, left single-leg balance, and step width changed significantly from the baseline phase. Step length ratio trended toward less symmetry but more consistency, and muscle strength improved more than 20% in 6 of 8 muscle groups in the involved lower extremity and 4 of 8 muscle groups in the uninvolved lower extremity.

Discussion and Conclusion: Intensive task-specific training was feasible and effective for retraining running ability in the study subject. He returned to recreational running, which provided him with a greatly improved outlook and a better quality of life.

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