Table 1.
Nineteen trials included in the qualitative synthesis
| Study | Total n, time post-stroke, group n, n (%) men, age, setting | Outcome, time points | PEDro score (/10) | Intervention Group (Duration, type, frequency) | Control Group (Duration, type, frequency) | Between group P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickstein et al 201324 | Total n=23, 6 months-2 years post I: n=12, 9 (75%) men, 71.3 years C: n=11, 7 (64%) men, 72.2 years Home |
FES Swedish version (secondary outcome) pre, post, 2 week follow up | 6 | 4 weeks. Integrated imagery practice 3x/week for 15 min | 4 weeks. PT for upper limb function 3x/week for 15 min | 0.67 post-intervention |
| Dickstein et al 201421 | Total n=16, =3 months post, 12 (75%) men, 63 ± 7 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post | 3 | 5 weeks. Motor imagery practice for walking activities 2x/week for 15 min | 5 weeks. Motor imagery practice for upper limb activities 2x/week for 15 min | Not significant |
| Holmgren et al 201027 | Total n=34, 3–6 months post I: n=15, 9 (60%) men, 77.7 ± 7.6 years C: n=19, 12 (63%) men, 79.2 ± 7.5 years Community |
FES-I (secondary outcome) pre, post, 3-and 6-month follow up | 7 | 5 weeks. High intensity functional exercises and activities 3x/week for 90 min; Education 1x/week for 60 min. After 5 weeks, home exercise 3x/week until 3-month follow up. | 5 weeks. Education 1x/week for 60 min | 0.05 post-intervention; 0.03* at 3-months, 0.08 at 6-months |
| Huijbregts et al 200828 | Total n=30, =3 months post I: n=18, 2 (20%) men, 71 ± 7.6 years C: n=12, 3 (33%) men, 63 ± 12.4 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post, 12 weeks follow up | 5 | 8 weeks. Land (stretch, strength, balance) or Pool (endurance) exercise 2x/week for 60 min; Discussion 2x/week for 60 min. One 120-minute booster session provided 6 weeks after program ended. | 6 weeks. Education 1x/week for 90 min | 0.09 |
| Hung et al 201422 | Total n=30, =6 months post I: n=13, 8 (62%) men, 55.5 ± 10.0 years C: n=15, 10 (67%) men, 53.4 ± 10.0 years Outpatient rehabilitation |
FES-I, pre, post, 3 months follow up | 7 | 12 weeks. Maintenance exercises 2x/week plus exergaming weight-shift training 2x/week for 30 min | 12 weeks. Maintenance exercises 2x/week plus conventional weight-shift training 2x/week for 30 min | 0.97 post-intervention; 0.89 at 3-months |
| Hwang et al 201029 | Total n=24, =6 months post I: n=13, 10 (77%) men, 46.4 ± 6.8 years C: n=11, 8 (73%) men, 48.1 ± 5.9 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post | 5 | 4 weeks. Videotape-based locomotor imagery training 5x/week for 25–30 min; Usual care PT 5x/week for 60 min | 4 weeks. Health-related documentary television program 5x/week for 25–30 min; Usual care PT 5x/week for 60 min | <0.001* |
| Jung et al 201226 | Total n=21, >6 months post I: n=11, 7 (64%) men, 60.5 ± 8.6 years C: n=10, 6 (60%) men, 63.6 ± 5.1 years Outpatient services |
ABC pre, post | 6 | 3 weeks. Virtual reality treadmill training with progressive increases in walking speed, 5x/week for 30 min | 3 weeks. Treadmill training without progression, 5x/week for 30 min | <0.05* |
| Lau et al 201225 | Total n=82, >6 months post I: n=41, 26 (63%) men, 57.3 ± 11.3 years C: n=41, 32 (78%) men, 57.4 ± 11.1 years Research laboratory |
ABC – Chinese version, pre, post, 1 month follow up | 8 | 8 weeks. Dynamic exercise combined with whole body vibration, 3x/week for 60 min | 8 weeks. Dynamic exercise on stable platform, 3x/week for 60 min | 0.008*, with large effect sizes pre-vs. post, and pre- vs. follow up. No change post-vs. follow up |
| Lindvall and Forsberg 201423 | Total n=46, >6 months post I: n=24, 12 (50%) men, 62.1 ± 11.4 years C: n=22, 15 (68%) men, 65.5 ± 9.2 years Primary healthcare centre |
ABC pre, post, 14 week follow up | 7 | 8 weeks. Body awareness group sessions 1x/week for 60 min | 8 weeks. No intervention or contact | 0.45 post-intervention, 0.54 at 14 weeks |
| Lord et al 200830 | Total n=30, Post-acute I: n=14, 9 (64%) men, 60.7 ± 17.6 years C: n=16, 9 (56%) men, 64.2 ± 14.8 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post | 6 | 7 weeks. PT assistant-led sessions of functional gait activities 2x/week. Session duration not specified. | 7 weeks. PT 2x/week. Session duration not specified. | 0.93 post-training, 0.47 at 3-month follow up |
| Marigold et al 200531 | Total n=61, =12 months post I: n=22, 17 (77%) men, 68.1 ± 9.0 years C: n=26, 18 (69%) men, 67.5 ± 7.2 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post, 1-month follow up | 6 | 10 weeks. Agility training (dynamic balance and walking) 3x/week for 60 min | 10 weeks. Stretching and weight shifting 3x/week for 60 min | 0.36 |
| Mudge et al 200932 | Total n=58, >6 months post I: n=31, 19 (61%) men, median (min-max) 76.0 (39.0–89.0) years C: n=27, 13 (48%) men, 71.0 years (44.0–86.0) Rehabilitation clinic |
ABC (secondary outcome), pre-, post, 3-months follow up | 7 | 4 weeks. Circuit training (gait, standing balance, lower limb strength) and stretching 3x/week for 50–60 min | 4 weeks. Education or Social sessions 2x/week for 90 min | 0.34 post-training, 0.54 at 3-month follow up |
| Pang Eng 200833 | Total n=60, >12 months post I: n=30, 18 (60%) men, 66.0 ± 8.7 years C: n=30, 13 (43%) men, 65.0 ± 8.5 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post | 6 | 19 weeks. Leg exercise program (aerobic, balance, strength) 3x/week for 60 min | 19 weeks. Arm exercise program 3x/week for 60 min | >0.10 |
| Pang Lau 201034 | Total n=21, >3 months post I: n=10, 7 (70%) men, 64.6 ± 7.2 years C: n=11, 7 (64%) men, 64.5 ± 6.2 years Community |
ABC – Chinese version (secondary outcome) pre, post | 6 | 6 months. Treadmill exercise in community settings 2x/week for 60 min | 6 months. Usual activities (e.g. leisure walking, light household tasks) | 0.018* |
| Park et al 201135 | Total n=25, 6 months-5 years post I: n=13, 7 (54%) men, 59.4 ± 8.5 years C: n=12, 5 (42%) men, 56.9 ± 7.8 years Inpatient rehabilitation |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post | 7 | 4 weeks. Ambulation training in community settings 3x/week for 60 min; Usual care PT 5x/week for 60 min | 4 weeks. Usual care PT 5x/week for 60 min | <0.01* |
| Salbach et al 200536 | Total n=91, <12 months post I (n=41, 25 (61%) men) + C (n=42, 26 (62%) men): 71 ± 11 years Community |
ABC (secondary outcome) pre, post | 7 | 6 weeks. Walking intervention 3x/week for 60 min | 6 weeks. Functional upper extremity tasks in sitting 3x/week for 60 min | <0.05* |
| Schmid et al 201237 | Total n=47, <6 months post I: n=37, 20 (54%) men, 63.9 ± 8.7 years C: n=10, 10 (100%) men, 60.2 ± 8.9 Community |
ABC pre, post | 4 | 8 weeks. Yoga (2x/week for 60 min) ± relaxation audio recording (3x/week for 20 min) | 8 weeks. No intervention or contact | >0.016 (NS for multiple comparisons) |
| Schuster et al 201238 | Total n=39, >3 months post Two intervention groups:
|
ABC (secondary outcome) | 5 | 2 weeks:
|
2 weeks. 6 physiotherapy sessions 25–30 min, plus audio recording 17 minutes (total 45–50 min) | >0.05 |
| Yang et al 200839 | Total n=20, >6 months post I: n=11, 5 (45%) men, 55.5 ± 12.2 years C: n=9, 5 (56%) men, 60.9 ± 9.3 years Community |
ABC – Chinese version (secondary outcome) pre, post, 1-month follow up | 6 | 3 weeks. Virtual reality treadmill training 3x/week for 20 min | 3 weeks. Treadmill training 3x/week for 20 min | 0.31 at post-training, 0.78 at 1-month follow up |
*
P<0.05
Abbreviations: I – Intervention group; C – Control group; FES-I – Falls Efficacy Scale-International; ABC – Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale; PT – Physical therapy