Disclosures: Yaser Albataineh, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Case Description: Patients were selected for the program based on their medical history, active medical issues, and cardiac history. All three patients agreed to participate in HIGT. Each of the three participants were monitored on telemetry during therapy sessions. Two of the three patients completed the full program without any complications. The third patient developed bradycardia during one of his therapy sessions. EKG at the time revealed a third degree heart block requiring transfer to an acute care facility where he ultimately received a pacemaker.

Setting: Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital – 115 bed freestanding Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital (IRU).

Patient: Three patients admitted to IRU after sustaining strokes were enrolled in a High Intensity Gait Training(HIGT) therapy program. The patients were a 84 year-old male with right corona radiata infarct, 65 year-old male with right basal ganglia infarct, and 57 year-old male with right posterior internal capsule infarct. Assessment/

Results: Both participants that completed the HIGT protocol showed improvement from admission to discharge scores in the timed sit to stand test, performance assessment of self care skills, Berg Balance Scale, 10 Meter Walk Test and 6 Minute Walk Test. The patient with the interrupted rehabilitation stay returned to IRU and completed a traditional program before discharging home.

Discussion: HIGT is currently being used in the outpatient setting for patients months after their injuries who have plateaued with functional improvements. Many of the outpatients have seen improvements in walking ability, balance, and speed. The efficacy of initiating HIGT program for stroke survivors in the subacute phase during inpatient rehabilitation is not well described. The development of an inclusion criteria and HIGT protocols is undergoing.

Conclusion: Although preliminary results of HIGT in the acute rehabilitation setting are promising, thorough screening and monitoring of patients enrolled is crucial to avoid cardiac and other medical complications.

Level of Evidence: Level IV

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/implementing-a-high-intensity-gait-training-program-for-stroke-patients-in-the-inpatient-rehabilitation-unit-a-case-series/