The effect of independent practice of motor tasks by stroke patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of independent practice of sitting balance as an addition to standard physiotherapy treatment for patients with stroke.

Design: Randomized controlled trial, using blocked randomization procedure with 2:1 ratio.

Subjects: Inpatients with diagnosis of stroke, having achieved one minute of independent sitting balance but not yet achieved 10 independent steps, and with no known previous disabilities, pathology or neurological deficit affecting mobility prior to stroke.

Intervention: A four-week regime of independent practice aimed at improving aspects of balance, as an addition to standard physiotherapy treatment based on the Bobath Approach.

Main Outcome Measure: Proportion of patients achieving 'normal' symmetry of weight distribution during sitting, standing, rising to stand, sitting down, and reaching.

Results: Nineteen subjects were randomized to the control group; nine to the intervention group. There were no clinically significant differences in measured outcome between the groups.

Conclusions: The regime of independent practice had no measured beneficial effect on the balance ability of patients with recently acquired stroke.