ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic saw the migration of many physiotherapy-led group exercise programmes towards online platforms. This online survey aimed to ascertain the patients' views of online group exercise programmes (OGEP), including their satisfaction with various aspects of these programmes, the advantages and disadvantages and usefulness beyond the pandemic. METHODS: A mixed-methods design was utilised with a cross-sectional national online survey of patients who had previously attended a physiotherapy-led OGEP in Ireland. The survey collected both qualitative and quantitative data. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the ordinal and continuous data and conventional content analysis was used to analyse the free-text responses. RESULTS: In total, 94 patients completed the surveys. Fifty percent of patients questioned would prefer in-person classes. Despite only a quarter of patient respondents preferring online classes going forward, satisfaction with the OGEPs was high with nearly 95% of respondents somewhat or extremely satisfied. Decreased travel and convenience were cited as the main benefits of OGEPs. Decreased social interaction and decreased direct observation by the physiotherapist were the main disadvantages cited. CONCLUSION: Patients expressed high satisfaction rates overall with online classes, but would value more opportunities for social interaction. Although 50% of respondents would choose in-person classes in the future, offering both online and in-person classes beyond the pandemic may help to suit the needs of all patients and improve attendance and adherence.
Subject(s)
Pandemics , Physical Therapy Modalities , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Exercise TherapyABSTRACT
Introduction: Stroke survivors often demonstrate low physical activity levels and experience barriers to physical exercise including embarrassment, low self-efficacy and a shortage of tailored community exercise programmes. Access to physical activity programmes for stroke survivors could be improved by providing tailored, online programmes, although little is known about the safety and feasibility of online exercise classes for stroke survivors. One such programme of exercise which has received little attention in the literature is neuropilates. Neuropilates is the practice of a modified pilates programme in those with neurological conditions and is theorised to have beneficial effects on strength, balance and proprioception in stroke survivors. No previous study has been conducted to investigate online, remotely supervised neuropilates exercise classes in the stroke survivors. Method and Analysis: This single assessor blinded randomised controlled feasibility study will compare a 6-week online, remotely instructed neuropilates programme to a 6-week online, remotely instructed generalised exercise programme and a 6-week unsupervised generalised home exercise programme in chronic stroke patients. Twenty adults, at least 6 months post stroke, and finished their formal rehabilitation will be recruited to the study. Primary feasibility outcome measures will include patient tolerance of the programme, adherence rates, adverse events, recruitment and retention. Secondary clinical outcomes will include; balance, gait, tone and quality of life. Assessments will be completed at baseline, on programme completion and 3 months post completion by a Physiotherapist blinded to the group allocation. Ethics and dissemination: This study has received ethical approval from the Sligo University Hospital Ethics committee and ATU ethics board. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.The trial has been registered on clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04491279).
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Pilates, a programme of mind-body exercises is theorised to have beneficial effects on strength, postural control, balance, proprioception, coordination and gait in people with deficits due to a neurological condition. However, the evidence of pilates in stroke patients has never been systemised. The objectives of this systematic literature review are to investigate the effects of pilates in post stroke individuals and compare this intervention to other forms of exercise, standard care and/or physiotherapy. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search was conducted in the following databases: Pubmed (including MEDline), Web of Science, the Cochrane library, Science Direct, Embase and PEDro. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were selected, screened, filtered and reviewed in detail to identify those that met the inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data was extracted to a table with specific headings for analysis and studies were rated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data from a total of 5 included studies with 122 participants was pooled and analysed using the Revman 5 software. Significant findings were found in favour of the pilates intervention groups on balance (P<0.00001), quality of Life (P=0.0002), and gait parameters (P=0.001), when results from the studies were combined and analysed. CONCLUSIONS: This review found moderate evidence for pilates exercises improving balance in post stroke individuals and limited evidence for improvements in quality of life, cardiopulmonary function and gait. Future studies should examine long term follow up, home programmes and comparisons with other forms of exercise in post stroke patients.
