Intensive, Multi‐Technology Rehabilitation Programme for Chronic Stroke Survivors: Outcomes of a Phase I Single‐Arm Repeated‐Measures Study

BACKGROUND: Effective rehabilitation interventions are needed to support recovery in people living with long-term post-stroke disability. Cocreation has been proposed as a method for enhancing the acceptability of technology-supported rehabilitation and may improve rehabilitation outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To observe changes in outcome following participation in a multi-technology rehabilitation intervention for motor recovery in people with chronic stroke and to explore factors associated with differential response. DESIGN: Pre-post, single-arm intervention study. METHODS: Participants with stroke ≥ 12 months previously and persistent motor impairment, completed an 8-week, group-based circuit class incorporating multiple rehabilitation technologies. Standardised measures of activity and participation were collected at baseline, pre-intervention, and post-intervention. RESULTS: Sixty-seven participants (mean age 60.49 ± 14.44 years; mean 41.87 ± 41.31 months post-stroke) were enroled and 59 (88.06%) completed a mean of 18.52 ± 6.44 sessions. Eight did not complete, mainly due to transport or illness. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes from pre-to post-intervention were observed across all outcomes. Subgroup analysis showed that participants with poorer balance, upper-limb function and global disability at baseline showed greater pre-post improvements than higher-functioning participants. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in mobility and global function were observed following participation in a cocreated, multi-technology group rehabilitation programme for people with chronic stroke. Greater pre-post improvements were observed among participants with greater initial disability. These preliminary findings need confirmation in controlled studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial registration: NCT06787768.