A case series to review the effectiveness of an upper limb circuit training group on the performance of the upper limb in stroke patients

Abstract

This case series explores the benefits of an eight week upper limb circuit training group for an outpatient stroke population with regards to three domains of the International Classification Framework (ICF): body structures and function; activity and participation. There were four participants ranging in age from 52 to 63 years old and in duration post-stroke from 82 to 444 days. The participants attended the group once a week. Each one hour session consisted of six exercise stations designed to include evidence based aspects of upper limb physiotherapy, such as, reach and grasp activities and fine motor skill activities. Participants were assessed by a blinded assessor at three time points; prior to the circuit training; on completion of the training and three months after completion. Outcome measures were chosen to allow interpretation across the three domains of the ICF. The results indicate a positive effect on upper limb performance for these patients with chronic stroke at completion of the eight week upper limb circuit group. Pain remained unchanged or reduced over the course of the study. This case series suggests upper limb circuit training groups may be a feasible way of providing effective physiotherapy to people recovering from stroke and worthy of further investigation.