Mudie 2001: Acute

Methods	Random assignment to 1 of 2 groups Method of randomisation not stated
Participants	36 participants Inclusion criteria: dense hemiplegia (less than or equal to 2 on Motor Assessment Scale items 6 and 7), able to understand instructions, produce a response with non‐hemiplegic arm during bilateral trials, no other strokes or confounding co‐morbidities
Interventions	Group 1 (18 participants): unilateral Group 2 (18 participants): bilateral Each group completed 5 trials, including 5 repetitions of 5 seconds each (of isometric contractions for 2 tasks (shoulder abduction and wrist extension)) 15 seconds rest between each of the 5 trials, and 5 minutes rest between the 2 tasks There was no training period: movement and outcome measurement occurred simultaneously Profession of individual(s) providing training unclear (assume occupational therapist) For Group 1, trials 1, 2, 3 and 5 were performed unilaterally and trial 4 bilaterally For Group 2, trials 1, 3 and 5 were performed unilaterally and trials 2 and 4 bilaterally Therefore, data from trial 2 only was extracted for this review
Outcomes	Secondary outcomes: motor impairment ‐ strength outcomes: muscle activity (EMG) for shoulder abduction and wrist extension were reported (data from wrist extension activity only was extracted for analysis)
Notes	Results for acute and chronic patients presented separately, therefore 2 subgroups of this trial are included in the relevant analysis
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	Method of randomisation and allocation concealment not stated
Blinding of outcome assessor?	Unclear risk	Assessment completed at the same time as the training
Intention to treat analysis?	Unclear risk	Not stated
Baseline similarity	Low risk	No significant differences between groups