Cozean 1988.

Methods	Design: Randomised controlled trial with 4 groups, 2 of which are relevant to and included in this review. Randomisation: 'randomly assigned to one of four groups'. Dropouts: n = 3. Medical problems, n = 2. Cognitive difficulties, n = 1.
Participants	n = 19. Experimental: n = 10 recruited and 8 completed, 6 male, 2 female and 4 right hemiparesis. Mean age 52 years. Four participants had suffered a stroke more than 1 year before they were recruited to the study. Control: n = 9 recruited and 8 completed, 2 male, 6 female and 5 right hemiparesis. Mean age 62 years. 5 participants had suffered a stroke more than 1 year before they were recruited to the study. Study criteria: (1) medically stable rehabilitation in‐patients with single CVA; (2) cognitive ability to co‐operate; (3) ability to ambulate short distance with assistance of a single therapist; (4) spastic equinus posturing of affected leg.
Interventions	Duration: 6 weeks. Experimental: Category = 5. Electrostimulation to produce contraction of tibialis anterior and, in some patients, relaxation of gastrocnemius. Sessions were provided for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The pulse frequency was controlled to provide the maximum contraction within tolerable levels of discomfort. Control: A standard physical therapy regime consisting of passive and active range of motion exercises for all major joints and muscle groups of both legs. Strengthening exercises were provided for all major joints/muscle groups of both legs. Special attention was focused on ankle and foot control in the affected limb and specific ambulation training was provided to overcome dynamic gait abnormalities. Comparison: Electrostimulation vs conventional.
Outcomes	Baseline measurement: Before intervention. Outcome measurement: 4 weeks after intervention ended. Included outcomes: (1) stride length; (2) minimum ankle angle during swing phase; (3) minimum knee angle during swing phase; (4) gait cycle time.
Notes	Experimental participants were permitted access to the stimulator at times other than during the treatment periods. Intention‐to‐treat principle not followed in analysis.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear