Factors affecting community ambulation post-stroke: a mapping review protocol.

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Physical Therapy
• Public Health

Background:

• Community ambulation is a critical but often unmet recovery goal for stroke survivors.
• Interventions traditionally focus on gait biomechanics, but biopsychosocial and environmental factors also significantly impact community mobility.
• Identifying facilitators and barriers to community ambulation is crucial for developing effective post-stroke interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and map the evidence on physical, biopsychosocial, and environmental factors influencing community ambulation after stroke.
• To describe methods used to assess limitations in community ambulation among stroke survivors.
• To inform the development of holistic, evidence-based interventions for improving community ambulation post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of nine databases (including CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science) for studies published since 2001.
• Inclusion of studies examining physical, biopsychosocial, or environmental factors in ambulatory adults at least six months post-stroke.
• Systematic screening, critical appraisal, and synthesis of extracted data, presented in tabular, narrative, and evidence map formats.

Main Results:

• The review will synthesize evidence on diverse factors affecting community ambulation post-stroke.
• It will highlight methodologies employed in assessing community ambulation limitations.
• Findings will be presented to facilitate understanding of the complex influences on post-stroke mobility.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized evidence will form a framework to guide stakeholders in creating targeted interventions.
• This work aims to promote more holistic approaches to enhance community ambulation for stroke survivors.
• Future research will be motivated to address critical factors influencing community mobility post-stroke.