Self-management interventions to improve mobility after stroke: an integrative review

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Evidence-based practice
• Stroke recovery

Background:

• Stroke survivors often experience impaired mobility, impacting their quality of life.
• Self-management interventions are increasingly explored to augment traditional rehabilitation.
• Improving functional mobility is a key goal for stroke recovery.

Approach:

• An integrative review synthesized evidence from 24 studies involving 823 participants.
• Searched eight databases from 1992 to July 2021 using PICOS strategy.
• Employed a quantitatively led narrative synthesis with qualitative support.

Key Points:

• Self-management strategies (education, goal-setting, self-monitoring, social support) integrated with therapy improved functional mobility, walking ability, and self-efficacy.
• Participants perceived these interventions as valuable additions to their rehabilitation.
• Improvements were noted in functional mobility, walking ability (speed, distance, endurance), and daily steps.

Conclusions:

• Evidence suggests self-management interventions can enhance mobility outcomes post-stroke.
• While promising, heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis, necessitating further efficacy research.
• These interventions are valued by survivors and can improve rehabilitation outcomes.