{
  "abstract": "BackgroundOur long-term goal is to determine the optimal volume of reactive balance training (RBT) in people with sub-acute stroke. This study aims to inform the design of a larger trial to address this long-term goal.\n\nTrial designAssessor-blinded three-arm pilot randomized controlled trial.\n\nMethodsParticipants (n=36) with sub-acute stroke were randomly allocated to one of three groups: 1, 3, or 6 RBT sessions. All sessions were delivered over 2-3 weeks. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention rates, intervention fidelity and adherence, and completeness of outcome assessments. Participants reported falls and physical activity for 6 months post-training; falls data were used to estimate sample size for a future trial. Functional balance, balance confidence, and balance reactions were assessed at: 1) study enrolment; 2) post-training; and 3) 6 months post-training to estimate effect sizes for a future trial.\n\nResultsThirty-five participants initiated training and 34 contributed post-training assessment data. Intervention adherence was high: participants completed 1.0, 2.9, and 5.7 RBT sessions on average in the 1-, 3- and 6-session, respectively. Functional and questionnaire outcomes were [≥]80% complete at most time points, although follow-up questionnaires at 2 and 4 months met only 74% completeness. Falls monitoring data were available for 30 participants, with 15 falls reported. Estimated sample sizes for a definitive trial using falls as the primary outcome (n=408-782) were not feasible for a single site; alternative primary outcomes (stability following balance perturbations) produced more feasible sample size estimates (n=30-72). Minor adverse events were reported by 1, 2, and 6 participants in the 1-, 3- and 6-session groups, respectively.\n\nConclusionsThe modified intervention and assessment procedures were feasible; however, a definitive single-site trial using falls as the primary outcome is not feasible. Stability-based outcomes may support a more feasible future trial.\n\nTrial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, NCT04219696",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University Health Network"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "A. Mansfield"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Jagroop"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. J. Danells"
    },
    {
      "name": "T. Bhatt"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. L. Inness"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tzrw5j1q1dzb.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.02.26362056",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362056v1.full",
  "id": "2tzrw5j1q1dzb",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362056v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "rehabilitation medicine and physical therapy"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2742|Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7211928087",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362056v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tzrw5j1q1dzb.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:58Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.02.26362056",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362056v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:rehabilitation medicine and physical therapy",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Determining the optimal volume of reactive balance training after stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial",
  "title_text": "Determining the optimal volume of reactive balance training after stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:58Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tzrw5j1q1dzb",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}