ABSTRACT
Background: In the rehabilitative management of persons with stroke, more efforts are emphasized to improve motor and cognitive impairments. However, assessment and health promotion of the fitness of stroke patients in a community set up and Quality of life have so far received limited attention. The goal was to determine the efficacy of community based FAME program in patients with chronic stroke. Objectives: To examine the effects of a community-based group exercise program in improving the health related quality of life in subjects with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized control group trial Participants: Fifty eight chronic stroke individuals (aged 45-65 years) who were living in the community. Intervention: Participants were randomized into experimental group (n =29) and control group (n=29). The experimental group underwent a fitness and mobility exercise (FAME) program along with strengthening exercises designed to improve fitness, mobility and quality of life (1-hour sessions, three sessions/week, for 14 weeks). The control group underwent strengthening program. Measurements: The health related quality of life was assessed by SS-QoL (Stroke Specific Quality of Life) in day zero, 8th week and end of 14th week. Results: The experimental group had showed significantly more gains in Quality of Life when compared to control Group. (p<0.001) Conclusion: The FAME program is feasible and beneficial in improving the quality of life and may prevent some of the secondary complications resulting from physical inactivity in older adults living with stroke. It serves as a good model of a community-based fitness program for preventing secondary diseases in older adults living with chronic conditions.