Can body awareness training improve recovery following stroke: A study to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

Background: Impairments in body awareness are common after stroke and are associated with decreased participation and performance in everyday activities.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility and safety of a body awareness program after stroke, and identify the preliminary efficacy of class-based lessons compared to home-based lessons on sensation, body awareness, motor impairment and quality of life.

Methods: A two-armed pilot randomized controlled trial with a nested qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Individuals with a diagnosis of stroke (at least three months post injury) were randomized to either class-based face-to-face body awareness lessons or home-based individually performed body awareness lessons. Outcome measures were safety, feasibility, sensation, body awareness, motor impairment, self-efficacy and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews were used to allow greater exploration and understanding of participants' experience of the program.

Results: Twenty participants were randomized, 16 participants completed the program. Feasibility was greater in the class-based group. No adverse events were detected. The class-based group led to improvement in body awareness (p = 0.002), quality of life (p = 0.002), and the arm (p = 0.025) and leg (p = 0.005) motor impairment scores. the class-based group experienced a stronger sense of awareness, achievement and connection than the home-based group.

Conclusions: Body awareness training was safe, feasible and acceptable in people with stroke. Individuals in the class-based group showed greater benefit compared to those receiving home-based therapy.