Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Relationship Between Hemispheric Prefrontal Cortex Activation, Standing Balance, And Fatigue In Individuals Post-Stroke: A Fnirs Study, Sarthak Kohli

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Balance impairments are common after stroke. Reasons for this are multifactorial and include motor dysfunction and fatigue. Limited research has explored the combined effects of post-stroke fatigue and balance on brain activation patterns. Research has shown that prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation may be involved in both motor control and fatigue throughout the recovery process post-stroke. The aim of this thesis was to determine whether: (1) PFC activation levels change between standing balance tasks, (2) PFC hemispheric activation is asymmetric during standing balance tasks, and (3) fatigue levels are associated with task-based activation. Patients with hemiparesis were recruited from the inpatient …

Assessing The Impact Of Caregiver Outcomes On Function And Reintegration Of Stroke Survivors Participating In A Community Stroke Rehabilitation Program., Spencer R. Thompson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

There is a limited amount of literature evaluating the relationship between caregivers, and the stroke survivors’ function and reintegration. The objectives were to evaluate the association between caregivers’ lifestyle changes on function and the role of functioning as a moderator between caregiving and reintegration among stroke survivors receiving community-based rehabilitation. Data were collected from January 2011 to January 2016. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression were performed on Functional Independence Measure, Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale, Reintegration to Normal Living Index across admission, discharge, and follow-up. Mean age was 70.2±13.17 years with 58% males (n=200). A …

Characterizing Knee Loading Patterns In People Post-Stroke, Stephanie Marrocco

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Post-stroke temporal gait asymmetry (TGA) could cause excess loading of the non-paretic leg which may cause musculoskeletal (MSK) issues in the knee. This thesis investigated knee loading during gait and its relationship to TGA post-stroke. Methods: Gait analysis was conducted in nine people post-stroke. Gait was classified as symmetric (TGS) or asymmetric and external knee adduction (KAM) and flexion moments (KFM) were calculated. Participants were compared to healthy older adults (n=109) on KAM and KFM. The proportion of individuals with increased loading was compared between the TGS and TGA groups. Results: Six and four participants exhibited increased loading …

Mirror Therapy For The Lower-Extremities Post-Stroke, Lucas David Crosby

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Despite extensive rehabilitation post-stroke gait remains slow, variable and asymmetric. There is a need for simple interventions to improve lower-extremity motor control and walking ability. Mirror therapy is a promising intervention though little attention has focused on its use on the lower-extremities post-stroke. This thesis investigates the feasibility and potential effects of a bilateral lower-extremity mirror therapy intervention (LE-MT) post-stroke. A case series involving three participants, who performed twelve 30 minute sessions of LE-MT over four weeks, is presented. Session duration and number of repetitions completed improved over the course of the intervention indicating LE-MT post-stroke is feasible. Some cases …

The Relationship Of Plantar Sensation With Standing Balance And Gait Post-Stroke, Stephen Parsons

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Gait and balance dysfunction after stroke limit independence and quality of life. Numerous contributing factors have been investigated but the role of sensation deficits has received little attention. This thesis investigated the relationship between plantar cutaneous sensation and 1) standing balance, 2) gait, and 3) use of vision to compensate for sensory loss with a secondary analysis of data from individuals with subacute stroke. Associations between standing balance, gait and sensation were investigated with Spearman correlations. Individuals classified as impaired or intact sensation were compared on gait and standing balance measures. This thesis found plantar sensation is related to standing …

Causes Of Post Stroke Falls Along The Care Continuum: Implications For Improving Patient Safety, Mona Madady

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In Western countries stroke is responsible for 10-12% of all deaths. In 2000, strokes cost $3.6 billion for the Canadian healthcare system and lost productivity due to premature death and long-term disability. Falls are a frequent occurrence at all stages of post-stroke recovery and can have significant negative impacts. While information about the incidence and risk factors of falling among stroke survivors is available, considerably less is known about the specific factors contributing to falls and the circumstances surrounding these adverse events. The purpose of this project was to identify similarities between systemic factors of falls in stroke survivors across …

Motor Control Of Exercise That Emphasizes Speed Post-Stroke, Vicki L. Gray

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Purpose: To investigate whether a single session of closed kinetic chain (CKC) and open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises emphasizing speed post-stroke could evoke changes in the motor control and whether these improvements would transfer to postural tasks.

Methods: Thirty-two individuals post-stroke and 32 age- and sex- matched controls performed a single session of 50 fast squats and steps (Chapter 3). Internal perturbations (arm raise/load drop) were used to assess postural responses before exercises (Pre), immediately after exercises (Post) and 15 minutes after exercises (Retention) (Chapter 4). Eleven individuals post-stroke performed a single session of 50 fast knee and ankle OKC …