An Intensive Strength Training Intervention to Improve Balance in Post Stroke Hemiplegics - A PROBE Pilot Study

Purpose: Stroke is emerging disease in India and leading cause of disability in elder population. There is lack of evidence in the management of balance with strength training intervention to address the neuro muscular recruitment and post stroke weakness. The purpose this study is to determine the feasibility and sample size for intensive strength training intervention for post stroke population. Design: This study is PROBE in design with block randomization. Methods: Totally 18 subjects were enrolled and 9 subjects were randomly allotted to each group. The experimental group received intensive strength training program for the period of 2-3 hours per day for 6 days a week for 6 weeks with conventional physiotherapy. The control group received conventional physiotherapy only. The outcome was measured by Berg balance scale (BBS) and the data was collected before the intervention and after 6 weeks of intervention. Analysis: The descriptive statistics was done to calculate the mean and SD for both the groups. Based on mean difference and pooled SD, the sample size was calculated. Result: The experimental group shown mean improvement of 10.88 + 3.78 and control group shown 6.44 + 3.97 in BBS and the effect size was 1.15. The sample size estimation was done with assumed statistical power and significance. Conclusion: The intensive strength training intervention was a feasible and