Supportive Strides: Co-designing Community-Based Walking Programs with Embedded Socialisation and Peer Support for People after Stroke
- 1Department of Physiotherapy, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Abstract
PurposeTo co-design a community-based walking program that incorporates social connection to improve physical activity post-stroke.
MethodsA four-stage Integrated Knowledge Translation approach was used. Stage 1: research team (2 stroke survivors, 8 professionals) defined research questions, scope and plan. Stage 2: workshops held with stroke survivors, carers, and health and design professionals to identify important program principles. Stage 3: research team used a Nominal Group Technique to make key decisions and develop the program. Stage 4: program presented to participants; feedback gathered and adaptations made. Workshop findings were iteratively analysed and summarised during sessions.
ResultsTwenty-six participants were recruited across stages 2 and 4 (12 stroke survivors, 2 carers, 12 professionals). Key program principles identified in Stage 2 were social support, inclusive environment, motivational support, co-ordination and administrative support. The Supportive Strides program was co-designed to incorporate these principles. Program elements included accessible outdoor walking routes, pre-walk coffee and social connection, peer-support, online group chat, milestone celebrations, and a safety checklist. Following Stage 4 participant feedback, adaptations were incorporated e.g., simpler screening process, include more walking route information.
ConclusionsThe co-designed Supportive Strides community-based walking program is ready for testing to improve physical activity and social connection after stroke.
Implications for RehabilitationO_LIThe Supportive Strides community-based walking program with embedded socialisation and peer support was co-designed by stroke survivors, carers, and health and design professionals C_LIO_LISocialisation and peer support are considered critical elements for engagement and sustainability of post-stroke physical activity programs C_LIO_LIInclusive environmental design may be important for outdoor walking activities for stroke survivors C_LIO_LITracking progress, celebrating achievements and coaching support are motivators for improving post-stroke physical activity levels C_LI
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BibTeX
@misc{fini2026supportive,
title = {{Supportive Strides: Co-designing Community-Based Walking Programs with Embedded Socialisation and Peer Support for People after Stroke}},
author = {N. Fini and P. Cahill and B. A. Beh and L. Suttie and D. Gallant and A. Martel and I. Mateo-Babiano and C. H. Marck and K. S. Hayward and E. Ramage},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.17.26362966},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.17.26362966v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Supportive Strides: Co-designing Community-Based Walking Programs with Embedded Socialisation and Peer Support for People after Stroke
AU - N. Fini
AU - P. Cahill
AU - B. A. Beh
AU - L. Suttie
AU - D. Gallant
AU - A. Martel
AU - I. Mateo-Babiano
AU - C. H. Marck
AU - K. S. Hayward
AU - E. Ramage
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.17.26362966
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.17.26362966v1
AB - PurposeTo co-design a community-based walking program that incorporates social connection to improve physical activity post-stroke. MethodsA four-stage Integrated Knowledge Translation approach was used. Stage 1: research team (2 stroke survivors, 8 professionals) defined research questions, scope and plan. Stage 2: workshops held with stroke survivors, carers, and health and design professionals to identify important program principles. Stage 3: research team used a Nominal Group Technique to make key decisions and develop the program. Stage 4: program presented to participants; feedback gathered and adaptations made. Workshop findings were iteratively analysed and summarised during sessions. ResultsTwenty-six participants were recruited across stages 2 and 4 (12 stroke survivors, 2 carers, 12 professionals). Key program principles identified in Stage 2 were social support, inclusive environment, motivational support, co-ordination and administrative support. The Supportive Strides program was co-designed to incorporate these principles. Program elements included accessible outdoor walking routes, pre-walk coffee and social connection, peer-support, online group chat, milestone celebrations, and a safety checklist. Following Stage 4 participant feedback, adaptations were incorporated e.g., simpler screening process, include more walking route information. ConclusionsThe co-designed Supportive Strides community-based walking program is ready for testing to improve physical activity and social connection after stroke. Implications for RehabilitationO_LIThe Supportive Strides community-based walking program with embedded socialisation and peer support was co-designed by stroke survivors, carers, and health and design professionals C_LIO_LISocialisation and peer support are considered critical elements for engagement and sustainability of post-stroke physical activity programs C_LIO_LIInclusive environmental design may be important for outdoor walking activities for stroke survivors C_LIO_LITracking progress, celebrating achievements and coaching support are motivators for improving post-stroke physical activity levels C_LI
ER -