Description

Stroke survivors often face challenges such as impaired balance, heightened fall risk, and basophobia (fear of falling), which significantly impact their daily lives and rehabilitation outcomes. Stroke patients have a two-fold higher risk of falling than other patients of the same age or gender.In particular, 30% to 50% of the elderly those over 65 years old, experience falls every year. The Otago Exercise Program, recognized for its efficacy in improving balance and reducing falls among older adults, and systematic desensitization, a psychological intervention aimed at reducing fear and anxiety related to falling, offer complementary approaches to address these challenges. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of Otago exercises and systematic desensitization on balance, fall risk, and basophobia among post-stroke older adults.

This randomized controlled trial will be conducted at Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital Sialkot over six months. The sample size will consist of 51 participants. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be taken through a non-probability convenience sampling technique, which will further be randomized through flip coin method. 17 Participants will be assigned to group A (otago exercise, systematic desensitization and routine physical therapy, 17 participants to group B( Otago Exercises and Routine Physical therapy ) and 17 participants were included in group C ( Systematic desensitization and Routine physical therapy only ).

Data will be collected using various assessment tools, including the Berg Balance Scale to assess balance , Timed up and go test for dynamic balance, Functional Reach Test for static balance, Fall Risk assessment scale to assess risk of fall, Fall Efficacy Scale International for risk of fall, and Fear of fall avoidance behavior questionnaire for basophobia. Pre-intervention assessments will be conducted for all three groups. The effects of the interventions will be measured at pre-treatment, 4th week, and post-intervention. Data analysis will be performed by using SPSS 26 software.