| Methods |
RCT using 3‐month cross‐over design with no treatment control group, first period only
"Randomisation was restricted; randomisation (permuted blocks of 10) with random number tables"
Exp = 49; Ctl = 45
Patients and treating therapists were not blind to their treatment group
Evaluators were blind to treatment group |
| Participants |
Number of participants = 94
Average age = 72 years
Stroke > 1 year and < 7 years
Mobility problems (needed walking aid, had fallen in previous 3 months, unable to manage stairs, or slow gait speed)
No other inclusion/exclusion criteria
It is not known if participants were living in the community |
| Interventions |
1 to 11 visits at home from physical therapist
Average time per visit not reported
Treatments and assessments carried out in the participants' homes
Physical therapist used problem‐solving approach, with 79% of participants reporting walking as a problem area for which treatment was needed
The interventions for those participants included re‐education of abnormal gait components, supervised practice walking inside and outside
In addition, 56% of participants who had problems with standing balance worked on obstacles courses, and practised on uneven surfaces
The control group was not contacted between initial assessment and 3.5‐month assessment |
| Outcomes |
Gait speed (10 metres)
Functional Ambulation Category (at baseline only)
BI ‐ number walking independently
RMI (sometimes an early version of it)
Nottingham Extended ADL Index ‐ mobility subscale
Outcomes measured at baseline (x 2), 6 weeks and 3.5 months |
| Notes |
Oxfordshire, UK |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Low risk |
A ‐ Adequate |
