Zhao 2003.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study design: RCT Method of randomisation: not stated ("All the patients were divided into two groups randomly")
Participants	Number of participants: n = 300 Inclusion criteria: "all the cases accorded with the diagnosis criteria instituted on the Fourth Cerebrovascular Disease Academic Conference in 1995 and were confirmed by clinic, CT or cerebral MR. All the cases suffered with different levels of paralysis, without conscious disturbance"
Interventions	(1) Rehabilitation group (n = 150) "Both groups received drug therapy after hospitalization. Rehabilitation group began to receive rehabilitation as soon as state of illness was stable" "Patients in Atonia stage received posture transfer exercise with active and passive exercises. In spasm stage, patients received exercise of inhibiting spasms, limb weight loading exercise, trunk control exercise, exercise for bilateral limbs coordination, limb normal motor pattern exercise and exercises for movement coordination. Patients in recovery stage received exercise for speed, mental movement training, walking training, up and down stair exercise and ADL exercise" The individual components delivered are listed in Table 6. Based on the individual components, this intervention is categorised as comprising functional task training, musculoskeletal intervention (active) and musculoskeletal intervention (passive) Length of intervention period: "(PT) :.. 10 days as a treatment course, persisting 2 courses. (OT):.. 10 days as a treatment course, persisting 2 courses" Number of sessions and length of individual sessions: "(PT): 1 time per day, 40 mins per time, (OT): 1 time per day, 30‐40 minutes per day" Intervention provider: not stated (2) Control group (n = 150) No intervention The individual components delivered are listed in Table 6. Based on the individual components, this intervention is categorised as comprising no intervention Length of intervention period: no intervention Number of sessions and length of individual sessions: no intervention Intervention provider: no intervention This study is classified as intervention (functional task training, musculoskeletal (active), musculoskeletal (passive)) versus no treatment (Table 7)
Outcomes	Measures of Independence in ADL: Barthel Index Time points when outcomes were assessed: "patients were evaluated by the same doctor before and after treatment"
Notes	Short Chinese study published in English—brief report only Mean and standard deviations computed from categorical data
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information provided
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information provided
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No information provided
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	No dropouts described
Free of systematic differences in baseline characteristics of groups compared?	Low risk	"There is no difference in age, gender and side of hemiplegia between groups"
Did authors adjust for baseline differences in their analyses?	Low risk	No information provided
Other bias	Unclear risk	No information provided