Rehabilitation of the stroke patient – Related resources

22.09.2014 • Sonuncu dəyişiklik 17.12.2012

This article is created and updated by the EBMG Editorial Team

Cochrane reviews

Force platform feedback (visual or auditory) in stroke rehabilitation may improve stance symmetry but not sway in standing, clinical balance outcomes or measures of independence .
There is insufficient evidence to conclude whether slings and wheelchair attachments prevent subluxation, decrease pain, increase function or adversely increase contracture in the shoulder after stroke .
EMG biofeedback is probably not superior over standard physiotherapy for the recovery of motor function after stroke .
Physiotherapy using a mix of components from different approaches may be more effective than no treatment or placebo control in the recovery of functional independence following stroke .
Cognitive rehabilitation may have limited benefit in unilateral spatial neglect of stroke survivors. .
Repetitive task training may provide modest short-term improvement in lower limb function, but not upper limb function, in rehabilitation after stroke .
There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of specific therapeutic interventions for motor apraxia after stroke .
Therapy-based rehabilitation services provided one year or more after stroke may not have any significant effect on patient or carer outcomes .
Psychotherapy appears to have a small but significant effect on improving mood and preventing depression in stroke survivors, whereas antidepressants appear not to prevent depression or improve physical recovery in these patients .
A lower limb orthosis seems to improve walking and balance in short-term, although the evidence is insufficient. An upper limb orthosis seems to have no effect on upper limb function or pain,although the evidence is insufficient. .
Robot-assisted therapy seems to have limited effect to improve arm function following stroke, although the evidence in insufficient .
Overground physical therapy gait training is probably not effective in gait function in chronic stroke patients .
Fitness training after stroke seems to improve walking ability but the evidence is insufficient .
Antidepressants seem to reduce emotionalism (lability, crying or laughing episodes) in stroke patients, although the evidence is insufficient .
Circuit class therapy appears to improve mobility and reduce inpatient length of stay after stroke .
The evidence is insufficient to estimate the efficacy of water-based exercises to help to reduce disability after stroke .
Gait training assisted by electromechanical devices in combination with physiotherapy after stroke may be more effective than gait training without such devices .
There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on any specific intervention at reducing the impact of impaired perceptual functioning after stroke .
For rehabilitation of upper limb function after stroke, electrical stimulation and mental practice (MP) in combination with other treatment might possibly be beneficial .
For visual field defects in stroke compensatory scanning training might be more beneficial than placebo or control at improving scanning ability and reading speed, but not at improving visual field outcomes, although the evidence is insufficient .
Paroxetine and buspirone might possibly be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in stroke patients with co-morbid anxiety and depression, although the evidence is insufficient .
For stroke patients requiring long-term nutritional support (beyond 6 months), PEG feeding may result in fewer treatment failures and gastrointestinal bleeding and better feed delivery. Nutritional supplements are probably not effective to normally nourished patients .
Treadmill training with or without body weight support is probably not effective for walking after stroke .
Electrostimulation may have some benefits for motor function compared to no treatment or placebo .
After stroke, there is no evidence of the efficacy of bilateral training as compared with usual care or other upper limb interventions for performance in ADL, functional movement of the upper limb or motor impairment outcomes .
Exercise is probably not effective in reducing falls after stroke .
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation might possibly have no effect in improving function after stroke, although the evidence is insufficient .