Standing Practice in Rehabilitation Early after Stroke (SPIRES)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled feasibility study to investigate the effects of a functional standing frame programme versus usual physiotherapy in people with severe sub-acute stroke on function, quality of life and neuromuscular impairment
IRAS ID
201646
Contact name
Angie Logan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with severe stroke experience significant muscle weakness and spend much of their time in bed or sitting. This inactivity can cause their muscles to become even weaker and stiff and they may experience sudden drops in blood pressure when they move from lying to standing (orthostatic hypotension (OH)). This further interferes with their ability to participate in intensive stroke rehabilitation, overall recovery and quality of life.
Currently physiotherapy for people with severe stroke concentrates on practising tasks that are important for independence and achieving safe discharge home. Standing up early after a stroke may help strengthen muscles, reduce OH and minimise or prevent muscles becoming stiff and weaker. This study aims to assess whether it is possible for people with severe stroke to use a standing frame to practise functional movements (standing and moving between sitting and standing) during their hospital-based rehabilitation.
Fifty people with a severe stroke will be recruited from four different Stroke Rehabilitation Units in Cornwall and Devon. A computer programme will randomly allocate participants to either (1) functional standing frame programme (30 minutes) and 15 minutes of usual physiotherapy, or (2) 45 minutes of usual physiotherapy only. The target is one physiotherapy session per day, a minimum of five times per week for three weeks.
We will measure: how many people join/drop out of the study; content of the usual physiotherapy treatment sessions; participants’ muscle strength, balance, quality of life and ability to carry out activities of daily living.
We will interview people who took part in the study, their relative and physiotherapists who delivered the physiotherapy sessions. This will help us: identify reasons why people decided whether or not to participate in the study; explore their experiences of the functional standing frame programme, being randomly allocated into different groups and the assessments we undertook.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
16/WA/0229
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion