RESULTS Studies of task-related training showed benefits for functional outcome compared with traditional therapies .
Active use of task-oriented training with stroke survivors will lead to improvements in functional outcomes and overall health-related quality of life .
CONCLUSION Generally , task-oriented rehabilitation proved to be more effective .
Many interventions are feasible for nurses and can be performed in a ward or at home .
AIM This paper is a report of a review conducted to provide an overview of the evidence in the literature on task-oriented training of stroke survivors and its relevance in daily nursing practice .
BACKGROUND Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult disability in the Western world .
The use of neurodevelopmental treatment in the daily nursing care of stroke survivors does not improve clinical outcomes .
Nurses are therefore exploring other forms of rehabilitation intervention , including task-oriented rehabilitation .
Despite the growing number of studies showing evidence on task-oriented interventions , recommendations for daily nursing practice are lacking .
A community-based fitness and mobility exercise program for older adults with chronic stroke: a randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of a community-based group exercise program for older individuals with chronic stroke . DESIGN Prospect i ve , single-blind , r and omized , controlled intervention trial . SETTING Intervention was community-based . Data collection was performed in a research laboratory located in a rehabilitation hospital . PARTICIPANTS Sixty-three older individuals ( aged > or = 50 ) with chronic stroke ( poststroke duration > or = 1 year ) who were living in the community . INTERVENTION Participants were r and omized into intervention group ( n=32 ) or control group ( n=31 ) . The intervention group underwent a fitness and mobility exercise ( FAME ) program design ed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness , mobility , leg muscle strength , balance , and hip bone mineral density ( BMD ) ( 1-hour sessions , three sessions/week , for 19 weeks ) . The control group underwent a seated upper extremity program . MEASUREMENTS Cardiorespiratory fitness ( maximal oxygen consumption ) , mobility ( 6-minute walk test ) , leg muscle strength ( isometric knee extension ) , balance ( Berg Balance Scale ) , activity and participation ( Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities ) , and femoral neck BMD ( using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry ) . RESULTS The intervention group had significantly more gains in cardiorespiratory fitness , mobility , and paretic leg muscle strength than controls . Femoral neck BMD of the paretic leg was maintained in the intervention group , whereas a significant decline of the same occurred in controls . There was no significant time-by-group interaction for balance , activity and participation , nonparetic leg muscle strength , or nonparetic femoral neck BMD . CONCLUSION The FAME program is feasible and beneficial for improving some of the secondary complications result ing from physical inactivity in older adults living with stroke . It may serve as a good model of a community-based fitness program for preventing secondary diseases in older adults living with chronic conditions
RESULTS Studies of task-related training showed benefits for functional outcome compared with traditional therapies .
Active use of task-oriented training with stroke survivors will lead to improvements in functional outcomes and overall health-related quality of life .
CONCLUSION Generally , task-oriented rehabilitation proved to be more effective .
Many interventions are feasible for nurses and can be performed in a ward or at home .
AIM This paper is a report of a review conducted to provide an overview of the evidence in the literature on task-oriented training of stroke survivors and its relevance in daily nursing practice .
BACKGROUND Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult disability in the Western world .
The use of neurodevelopmental treatment in the daily nursing care of stroke survivors does not improve clinical outcomes .
Nurses are therefore exploring other forms of rehabilitation intervention , including task-oriented rehabilitation .
Despite the growing number of studies showing evidence on task-oriented interventions , recommendations for daily nursing practice are lacking .