Yang 2008.
| Methods | RCT | |
| Participants | Study took place in Taiwan 24 participants: 12 intervention, 12 control Inclusion criteria: hemiparesis resulting from a single stroke occurring > 6 months earlier, limited household walker, unlimited household walker or most‐limited community walker by functional walking category, not presently receiving any rehabilitation services, no visual field deficit or hemianopia, stable medical condition to allow participation in the testing protocol and intervention, ability to understand instructions and follow commands Exclusion criteria: any comorbidity or disability other than stroke that would preclude gait training, uncontrolled health condition for which exercise was contraindicated, neurological or orthopaedic disease that might interfere with the study Mean (SD) age: intervention group 55 (12) years, control group 61 (9) years 50% men Stroke details: 45% right hemiparesis Timing post stroke: intervention group mean (SD) 6 (4) years, control group 6 (10) years |
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| Interventions | VR intervention: the participant walked on a treadmill as virtual environments were displayed on a screen in front of the person with a wide field of view. Speed and incline of the treadmill was able to be varied in conjunction with scenery changes. Leg movements were tracked by an electromagnetic system to detect collisions with virtual objects. The virtual environment was designed to simulate a typical community in Taipei. Scenarios consisted of lane walking, street crossing, negotiating obstacles and strolling through the park Control intervention: treadmill training. While walking on the treadmill the participant was asked to execute different tasks. The tasks included lifting the legs to simulate stepping over obstacles, uphill and downhill walking and fast walking Sessions were 20 min, 3 times/week for 3 weeks (3 h total) |
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| Outcomes | Outcomes recorded at baseline, post intervention and at 1 month Lower limb function and activity outcomes: walking speed (m/s), community walk test Participation restriction and quality of life: walking ability questionnaire, Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale |
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| Notes | — | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | An independent person picked 1 of the sealed envelopes before the start of the intervention |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Unclear whether envelopes were opaque |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Blind |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Unclear |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Unclear |