Effect of dual-task exercises on balance, risk for fall and activities of daily living dependency of patients with stroke: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Stroke survivors often experience impaired balance, increased fall risk, and dependency in activities of daily living (ADLs). Dual-task exercises, combining motor and cognitive challenges, may improve these outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dual-task exercise intervention on balance, fall risk, and ADLs dependency in stroke patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest design was used with 54 stroke patients recruited from Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo. Participants underwent 16- sessions of individualized dual-task exercises over 8 weeks. Follow-up assessments were conducted immediately post-intervention (two months). Balance was measured at follow-up using the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS); fall risk was assessed at follow-up using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT); and ADLs dependency was evaluated at follow-up using the Barthel Index (BI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Before intervention, 75.9% of participants had low ability to maintain posture, which improved post-intervention to 61.1% with high ability ( Conclusion: Dual-task exercise training significantly improves balance, reduces fall risk, and enhances independence in ADLs among stroke patients. These findings support integrating dual-task interventions into stroke rehabilitation protocols, especially in resource-limited settings.