UniSA stroke bootcamp helps recovery: study

The 'stroke bootcamp' by UniSA goes includes exercises that helps people in their recovery and goes for five weeks. Initial results show outcomes that are three times better than standard treatments.

In Australia, there are more than 100 strokes every day. One in four people will experience a stroke in their lifetime.

The stroke recovery clinic is led by UniSA physiotherapy students (under the guidance of practitioners) for people needing ongoing rehabilitation in their arms and hands following a stroke.

Physiotherapist and UniSA researcher, Dr Brenton Hordacre, said preliminary data showed improvements in patients' upper limb function were almost three times the clinically meaningful change score used to measure arm recovery.

"After a stroke, many patients cannot move their bodies in the same way they used to. And practically, this might mean they can no longer grasp a coffee mug or bring a fork to their mouth during mealtimes," Dr Hordacre said.

"Our program focussed on helping people regain these fundamental movements, so they get back some sense of normalcy, independence, and a higher quality of life."

He said patients are enjoying the intensive rehab and want to do more.

"Going into the program, we also thought there was a risk that patients would not enjoy it, because the rehab was too challenging or intense. However, what we've found is that patients really enjoy the program, and the results they're seeing, and don't want to leave."

In response to this success, the team is looking at how to expand the program to a supervised `drop-in' service.

The Hospital Research Foundation Group gave an $80,000 grant to support the clinic.