Grant: CIHR-ICRH Travel Awards - General pool

Accessing stroke rehabilitation services after returning home can be challenging because of costs getting to and from appointments. It is critical to better understand the rehabilitation needs and experiences of people recovering from stroke so that we can provide the best care for them. We interviewed individuals who participated in the TeleRehabilitation with Aims to Improve Lower extremity recovery post-stroke (TRAIL) program to seek their perspectives on the program delivery and resources, as well as their lower limb recovery outcomes. TRAIL is a 4-week live, physical therapist-guided virtual exercise program focused on improving leg function after stroke. This study took place in 5 sites across Canada. All men and women who were interviewed agreed that TRAIL provided them an opportunity to easily participate in rehabilitation from the comfort of their own homes. All participants also reported that their leg function improved from TRAIL and that they felt safe throughout the program because the therapists modified exercises to accommodate their individual needs. The findings from this research are important for people recovering from stroke, especially as virtual care becomes more common. We hope that virtual rehabilitation can extend