| Methods |
RCT
Method of randomisation: not stated
Blinding of outcome assessors: stated as 'yes' by the investigator
Adverse events: not stated
Deaths: not stated
Dropouts: 4 (1 in treatment group, 3 in control group)
ITT: unclear |
| Participants |
Country: Switzerland
23 participants (12 in treatment group, 11 in control group)
Not ambulatory at start of study
Mean age: 57 to 67 years (control and treatment groups, respectively)
Inclusion criteria: ≤ 3 months after stroke, ability to stand or walk 5 metres
Exclusion criteria: orthopaedic problems, contractures, NYHA III‐IV |
| Interventions |
2 arms:
Control group used task‐oriented physiotherapy, 5 times a week for 3 weeks (2.5 hours a week) Experimental group used robotic‐assisted treadmill training (Lokomat) for the same time and frequency
|
| Outcomes |
Outcomes were recorded at baseline and after 3 weeks and 6 months
Primary outcomes: walking velocity, step length, endurance, walking ability (FAC)
Secondary outcomes: isometric knee extension strength, patient acceptance and satisfaction (visual analogue scale) |
| Notes |
Unpublished data |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Method of randomisation not described |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Not described |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Unclear |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Unclear |
