A SmartStep Towards Stroke Recovery
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The SmartStep Stroke Study is designed for people who experienced a stroke more than six months ago and continue to face challenges with balance and mobility.
The study may be particularly suited to those who prefer exercising in the comfort of their own home. Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term physical disability worldwide. Many stroke survivors experience ongoing balance and mobility difficulties, as well as functional dependency, due to impaired lower limb strength, control and coordination. While traditional rehabilitation approaches can help improve these symptoms, they can be
difficult to maintain over time.
SmartStep is a home-based exer-game program that combines balance training with interactive gameplay using a step mat. The program features a series of games designed to encourage quick and accurate stepping, addressing both the physical and cognitive aspects of stroke rehabilitation. Researchers at NeuRA have previously conducted extensive studies of the SmartStep program with older adults and people living with other neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
These studies have shown the program to be enjoyable and capable of improving cognition, balance and stepping reaction time. Building on this evidence, the current study aims to investigate whether the SmartStep program can improve balance and mobility in community-dwelling stroke survivors. Eligible participants will have the opportunity to use the SmartStep program at home for four months, with guidance to complete approximately 120 minutes of gameplay each week at progressively increasing levels of difficulty.
Participants will also attend the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre at NeuRA for assessments of balance, mobility, cognition, brain activity, quality of life and fear of falling at the beginning and end of the trial.
The SmartStep Stroke program is a research trial approved by the University of New South Wales Ethics Committee and is funded by the Stroke Foundation.
For more information or to participate, contact the SmartStep Stroke Team:
T: 02 9399 1067
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