Richards 2004

Methods	RCT Method of randomisation: stratified randomisation with random permuted blocks and random block size Blinding of outcome assessors: yes Adverse events: not reported Deaths: not reported Drop outs: 15 (7 in EXP group, 8 in CTL group) ITT: yes
Participants	Country: Canada 63 participants (32 in EXP group, 31 in CTL group) Ambulatory at study onset Mean age: 61 to 63 years (CTL and EXP group respectively) Inclusion criteria: age between 30 and 89 years, with first or second episode of ischaemic stroke with residual deficit, Barthel Ambulation Subscore > 10, gait speed between 0.1 and 0.6 m/s Exclusion criteria: haemorrhagic stroke, ability to understand and follow verbal instructions, major medical problems (diabetes, cancer, aphasia, orthopaedic disorders) interfering with the intervention
Interventions	2 arms: CTL group received physiotherapy in an eclectic approach, 5 times per week for 8 weeks (5 hours per week) EXP group received treadmill training without body weight support, reciprocal stepping and limb loading for the same time and frequency
Outcomes	Outcomes were recorded at baseline, at the end of the intervention phase and 3 months later Primary outcomes: gait speed by walking 5 metres, 10 metres or 30 metres at preferred speed Secondary outcomes: lower extremity function (FMA), Timed Up and Go, Functional Independence (Barthel Ambulation Subscore)
Notes	Contamination addressed in the study design by issues of location and personnel
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Stratified randomisation with random permuted blocks and random block size
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	After randomisation, treating therapists were informed about assignment
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcome assessor was blinded to group assignment