National Stroke Research Institute

A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT)

Improving recovery and quality of

life for stroke survivors Assoc Professor Julie Bernhardt

Director AVERT Programon behalf of the AVERT trialists collaboration

www.nsri.org.au

National Stroke Research Institute

The burden of stroke on the patient, their family and the community is staggering

Stroke is the leading cause of serious long term disability in the Western world

Over 700,000 people/year in the United States have a stroke

That’s a new person with stroke every 45 seconds

In addition to the personal and family burden of stroke, it costs the American community > $60 billion dollars a year

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National Stroke Research Institute

We believe early intensive exercise therapy can reduce the burden of stroke

We are conducting high quality scientific trials of this simple, practical intervention to prove that early and intensive exercise therapy improves recovery and quality of life for stroke patients and is cost effective

Widely applicable and cost effective interventions are needed if we are to make any impact on the stroke burden

Early intensive exercise therapy offers hope for the 80% of stroke patients not suitable for clot busting drugs

For these patients, early intensive exercise therapy offers new hope for recovery

National Stroke Research Institute

Patients can participate in intensive exercise therapy and that it is safe

In the past people believed that patients could not exercise immediately after having a stroke or that it might be dangerous

These beliefs explain why a simple and practical intervention such as early intensive exercise therapy has not been tested before

Our first trial indicates that this is not the case

National Stroke Research Institute

AVERT Phase III, to conclude 2010 is the largest stroke rehabilitation trial ever

What makes this trial unique It involves over 2000 stroke patients from >10 hospitals Patients are drawn from broad age range, both genders, all

races, rural and urban environments Designed like a drug trial to allow comparison of results

with other proven interventions Low equipment requirements, making it readily transferable

What will it prove Simple, non-drug interventions can be delivered very early

after stroke The effectiveness of early intensive exercise therapy at

improving recovery and quality of life The cost effectiveness of this intervention

National Stroke Research Institute

In essence:

The burden of stroke is staggering

Simple, cost effective interventions are urgently needed

We believe early intensive exercise therapy will dramatically improve the recovery and quality of life for people who suffer a stroke

It will be especially beneficial for those 80% of stroke patients who cannot receive clot buster drugs.

This is a new and cost effective opportunity for recovery from stroke

We hope to prove early intensive exercise therapy is an invaluable part of early stroke care.