Objective: The purposes were threefold: to develop an obstacle ambulation training programme, to recruit and retain individuals post chronic stroke and to assess the effectiveness of the obstacle ambulation training programme.
Design: Intervention study; case series; baseline to post-intervention measures and one month follow-up after intervention.
Setting: An outpatient department.
Subjects: Five individuals with chronic stroke with mild to moderate functional limitations; convenience sample.
Interventions: Therapy consisted of twice weekly sessions for four weeks during which subjects walked along a walkway and over obstacles.
Main outcome measures: Motor Assessment Scale--walking section (MAS--time), Six-minute Walk Test distance, walking velocity, and Medical Outcomes Study-36 Health Status Measurement (SF-36).
Results: Significant improvements were seen baseline to post intervention for walking velocity, Six-minute Walk Test, MAS and SF-36 physical function score (p < or = 0.025 for all measures). Most improvements noted at the end of training were retained one month later. The effect sizes ranged from 0.33 to 1.20.
Conclusions: Substantial improvement in ambulation function and disability level were seen as a result of the obstacle training programme for individuals with chronic stroke. Further investigation is warranted.