Effect of Participation in Virtual Exercise Sessions in Persons With Aphasia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of an online exercise program for community-dwelling individuals with aphasia, a language disorder resulting from brain damage. Physical activity, language, cognitive, and quality of life outcomes will be collected to assess potential effectiveness.

Detailed Description
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Approximately one-third of stroke survivors have aphasia, acquired language difficulty that affects the ability speak and understand others. However, despite documented benefits of interventions to promote physical activity (PA) after stroke, including improved health-related quality of life (QoL), social and emotional benefits, and improved cognition, individuals with aphasia are often excluded from this research due to their communication difficulties. This is particularly concerning, given that individuals with aphasia are at greater risk of social isolation and depression compared to stroke survivors without aphasia. Presently, limited research has been conducted that examines the effect of PA interventions in individuals with aphasia although preliminary findings suggest that benefits may exist across domains (health and disability). This study aims to better understand how PA affects the lives of individuals with aphasia. Given weekly tele-instruction in PA over 10 weeks, participants' levels of PA will be monitored for the duration of the study. Pre- and post-treatment measures of cognitive ability, QoL, and aphasia severity will be collected and analyzed to characterize intervention effects. The results of this study will provide insight into whether PA may be an important component of future aphasia treatment.

Official Title
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Effect of Participation in Virtual Exercise Sessions on Physical Activity, Language and Cognitive Functioning, and Quality of Life in Persons With Aphasia

Conditions
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Aphasia, Acquired

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Online aphasia-adapted physical activity class


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Presence of aphasia Able to join exercise classes over Zoom Exclusion Criteria: None

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants who elect to take part in the exercise intervention will be assigned to the intervention group, while those who do not will be assigned to the control group.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Online aphasia-adapted physical activity class<br>Will receive the physical activity intervention. | Behavioral: Online aphasia-adapted physical activity class<br>* Online 50-minute physical activity sessions, two to three times weekly for 10-11 weeks. The activity instructions will be modified to be aphasia-friendly (simplified language, multimodality support).<br>|
| No Intervention: Usual routine control<br>Engage in physical activity per usual routine. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adherence Rates | Percent of classes attended | During intervention (weeks 1-10) | 
| Retention | Percent of participants completing the intervention | Post-intervention (week 10) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Participants' attitudes towards the intervention | Acceptability and themes as identified via qualitative interview | Post-intervention (week 10) |