Structured Walking Protocol Boosts Post-Stroke Recovery: Insights from the Walk ‘n Watch Trial

Highlights

• The Walk ‘n Watch trial demonstrated a 43.6-meter greater improvement in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) compared to usual care.
• The structured, progressive protocol was delivered safely by front-line physical therapists with no serious adverse events during exercise sessions.
• Pragmatic implementation at 12 sites across Canada suggests the protocol is feasible for real-world inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
• The intervention addresses the repetition gap by mandating at least 30 minutes of high-intensity walking per session.

Introduction: Addressing the Repetition Gap in Stroke Recovery