Brooks Researchers Published in Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy

Brooks Research kicks the year off with a bang as two of our clinicians, Lou DeMark, PT, DPT, NCS, and Dorian K. Rose, PT, PhD make the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

Brooks Research kicks the year off with a bang as two of our clinicians, Lou DeMark, PT, DPT, NCS, and Dorian K. Rose, PT, Ph.D. make the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

The journal features Dr. DeMark’s and Dr. Rose’s study, A Backward Walking Training Program to Improve Balance and Mobility in Acute Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial. This clinical trial, funded by the Brooks’ Community Foundation and conducted at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, gains nationwide recognition for its innovative and groundbreaking discoveries regarding backward walking training and its potential to improve recovery for individuals post-stroke.

The pilot study determined the (1) feasibility of administering Backward Walking Training (BWT) during inpatient rehabilitation and (2) compared the effectiveness of BWT to Standard Balance Training (SBT) on walking speed, balance, and balance-related efficacy in acute stroke.

The authors report that individuals 1-week post-stroke tolerated 30 minutes of therapy in addition to their scheduled rehabilitation program. Upon completion of the intervention period, BWT resulted in greater improvements in both forward and backward walking speed than SBT. The authors conclude that “Backward walking training is a feasible important addition to acute stroke rehabilitation.”

Brooks Research kicks the year off with a bang as two of our clinicians, Lou DeMark, PT, DPT, NCS, and Dorian K. Rose, PT, PhD make the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

Pilot data from this Brooks’ Community Foundation-funded study was leveraged by Dr. Rose and Dr. DeMark to obtain external funding from the American Heart Association and $1.1 million in funding from the Veterans’ Administration.  These two studies are currently underway at the Brooks Clinical Research Center under the umbrella of the Brooks- University of Florida College of Public Health & Health Professions Collaboration.

Dr. Emily Fox (Brooks-PHHP Collaboration), Dr. David Clark (Malcom Randall VAMC) and Dr. Peter Wludyka (University of North Florida) were co-authors on this study.

For the full publication, please click here: http://journals.lww.com/jnpt/Abstract/2018/01000/A_Backward_Walking_Training_Program_to_Improve.3.aspx