Table 1 Participant characteristics and baseline scores by treatment group
Characteristics | Intervention [n = 22] | Usual physiotherapy [n = 23] |
|---|---|---|
Age in years, mean (SD) [range] | 81.7 (11.7) [51–96] | 78.9 (10.5) [60–94] |
Gender, n (%) | ||
Female | 12 (54.5) | 14 (60.9) |
Days post-stroke participant was admitted to Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, median (range) [IQR] | 10.0 (0–31) [11] | 6.0 (0–36) [10] |
Fatigue, n (%) | ||
0–3 (“not tired”, “a little tired”) | 4 (18.2) | 4 (17.4) |
4–10 (“tired”, “really tired”, “so tired I cannot do any more”) | 18 (81.8) | 19 (82.6) |
Orthostatic hypotension at randomisation | ||
n (%) with orthostatic hypotension | 4 (18.2) | 3 (13.0) |
Modified Rankin Scale, n (%) | ||
4 (moderately severe disability) | 17 (77.3) | 19 (82.6) |
5 (severe disability) | 5 (22.7) | 4 (17.4) |
Barthel Index total score, mean (SD) [range] | 2.3 (2.06) [0–8] | 2.6 (2.57) [0–10] |
Edmans Activities of Daily Living Index for stroke subgroup total, mean (SD) [range] | ||
Washing | 0.7 (0.50) [0–2] | 0.6 (0.66) [0–2] |
Grooming | 2.2 (2.99) [0–9] | 2.6 (3.10) [0–9] |
Dressing | 0.3 (0.72) [0–3] | 0.4 (0.72) [0–3] |
Meal times | 2.9 (3.01) [0–9] | 3.4 (3.28) [0–9] |
Basic mobility | 0.7 (0.76) [0–2] | 0.7 (1.05) [0–4] |
Advanced mobility | 0.1 (0.21) [0–1] | 0.1 (0.21) [0–1] |
Bed mobility | 0.1 (0.64) [0–3] | 0.2 (0.74) [0–3] |
Kitchen activities | 0.1 (0.21) [0–1] | 0.1 (0.21) [0–1] |
Housework activities | 0.0 (0) [0] | 0.0 (0) [0] |